Courts Service considers implementing AI translators in bid to save money

Courts Service CEO Angela Denning said Spain uses such technology 'very effectively'. Singapore and Slovenia have speech-to-text technology available, she added. File picture 

The Courts Service is considering implementing an AI translation service to save money and speed up hearings.

The service spends approximately €4m on translation and interpretation services annually.

The AI alternative is at a “proof-of-concept” stage, and the Courts Service says further “development and evaluation is required”.

Testing is underway “to measure accuracy”.

A digital audio recording AI assistant project has already passed initial testing and will be rolled out in a controlled deployment during September and October, “subject to readiness”.

At an Oireachtas committee on artificial intelligence, Courts Service chief information officer Owen Harrison previously said: “It is hoped that we will be able to give members of the judiciary and the courts options for moving cases along in respect of small procedural matters that need a translation capability in the room that is not immediately available and could otherwise lead to adjournments in order to bring back a person to get over that hurdle.

“A number of judges want to see whether we can do anything in this space.”

Courts Service CEO Angela Denning said Spain uses such technology “very effectively”. Singapore and Slovenia have speech-to-text technology available, she added.

Ms Denning said: “That type of thing would be of great assistance to court users and could save the system money through obviating the need to have interpreters available for every small matter, for the procedural matters.

“For trials, we will still have our interpreters available, and indeed interpreters for the legal teams.”