“Artificial intelligence (AI) is not a substitute for human knowledge, but a complement to it,” said Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Chairman of India’s 23rd Law Commission and former Supreme Court Justice, at the inaugural session of the two-day international conference on “Lex Ex Machina: Interdisciplinary Dialogue for a Responsible Digital Future” organized by the Faculty of Law, SRM University, Rajiv Gandhi Education City. Rai, Sonepat.
Addressing a global audience, Justice Maheshwari emphasized the ethical obligations surrounding AI, warning that AI lacks independent cognitive functions and can trigger reactions regardless of its accuracy. He also highlighted new legal challenges, particularly related to the attribution of rights and responsibilities for actions performed by AI systems, with references from the technical, legal and medical fields.
Justice Mohan Peiris, former Chief Justice of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and guest of honor at INCOLEM 2025, spoke about the transformative impact that AI will have on the legal profession. He pointed out that AI is becoming an integral part of legal work, from writing and drafting judgments to research. However, he stressed that AI must remain under human supervision and its output must be managed by human-designed algorithms and ethical frameworks.
In his presidential address, Professor Paramjit Singh Jaswal, Vice-Chancellor of SRM University, reflected on the changes in society brought about by the evolution of digital connectivity and technology. He emphasized the need for a principles-based approach to AI legislation in India, based on the philosophical tenets of dharma, one that harmonizes legal innovation with constitutional and ethical safeguards.
The conference attracted distinguished scholars from the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Argentina, Romania, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and several other countries, making the first session a global exchange.
Prominent legal scholar Professor Upendra Bakshi addressed the graduating class ceremony, acknowledging the growing role of AI in the legal field, but warning students not to abandon their books. He said no technology can replace books as a source of learning.
