South African startup My AI Lawyer has launched an artificial intelligence platform that delivers personalised legal guidance via the internet and WhatsApp, with the aim of making access to legal information more accessible to individuals who cannot afford traditional legal assistance.
Available online and through WhatsApp, the platform was designed to answer everyday legal questions in plain language. According to the startup, the service operates around the clock and seeks to ease access to legal guidance by reducing the barrier posed by high attorney fees and complex legal terminology.
Darren Cohen, head of distribution and marketing at My AI Lawyer, argues that access to justice should not be a privilege. The platform allows users to obtain legal guidance directly on their mobile phones, without the immediate need to consult an attorney.
Unlike generic artificial intelligence tools, My AI Lawyer was developed specifically on the basis of South African legislation and was built with the involvement of practising attorneys in the country. The system is updated to keep pace with legislative changes and other legal developments, aiming to provide responses that are relevant to the South African legal context.
When more in-depth analysis is required, users can be referred to human attorneys. The service therefore combines automated assistance with the option of follow-up support from legal professionals.
The platform also incorporates mechanisms designed to confine responses to South African law and states that it complies with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
According to the startup, the system operates as a closed platform, meaning that users’ personal data and the legal queries they submit are not used to train large language models.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=533215
