The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is today witnessing an accelerated transformation in adopting artificial intelligence technologies within government institutions as tools capable of raising work efficiency, improving service quality, and supporting decision-making.

AI has emerged in the justice sector as part of a clear national trend based on Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Strategy for Data and AI, aiming to build an integrated, more efficient digital judicial system without compromising judicial independence or the essence of judicial rulings, because justice in the Kingdom is based on a firm principle of judicial independence as an independent authority subject only to Islamic Sharia and applicable laws, as stipulated by the Basic Law of Governance.

The judicial system confirms that judicial conviction is built on applying the legal text to the facts, not on interpretation where the text exists.

His Excellency the Minister of Justice and President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Sheikh Dr. Walid bin Mohammed Al-Samaani, expressed this principle by saying: 'There is no ijtihad (interpretation) where a legal text exists,' clarifying that the scope of judicial discretion is strictly on the facts, not on the texts. From this standpoint, artificial intelligence in Saudi courts is viewed as a supportive tool for judicial work, not a substitute for the judge nor a means for automatic dispute resolution.

Artificial intelligence, in essence, consists of systems capable of analyzing data, recognizing patterns, and linking information, helping to expedite procedures, reduce administrative burdens, and save time and resources, while the judge retains full authority in formulating and reasoning the judgment.

But the importance of AI lies in its ability to reduce unintended human bias by providing information objectively and analyzing it away from influences, thereby enhancing judicial impartiality. Its role also emerges in supporting the search for judicial precedents, analyzing case documents, and improving procedural consistency, without interfering in legal conditioning or judicial conviction.

This trend has been reflected in the digital transformation path led by the Ministry of Justice through the 'Najiz' platform, which has reshaped the litigation experience electronically, from case registration, referral, and jurisdiction determination, to the issuance of the judicial instrument.

Among the supportive applications for this transformation currently are the virtual execution court application, the smart models application for transcribing and summarizing sessions, and the 'Smart Assistant' service on the Najiz platform, which helps beneficiaries determine the correct type of lawsuit before registration, thus reducing procedural errors and improving data quality.

This development integrates with the national data infrastructure through the Saudi Open Data Portal and the provision of application programming interfaces (APIs) to a number of government entities, including the Ministry of Justice, within governance frameworks that maintain privacy. Initiatives such as 'Najiz Developers' also enhance the participation of the technical community in developing innovative solutions that support digital justice and enrich Arabic technical content.

In terms of measuring digital readiness, the National AI Index reflects the readiness of government entities to adopt AI solutions responsibly.

The Ministry of Justice has achieved distinguished results, obtaining the creativity level in the Digital Transformation Index for 2024, and achieving advanced levels in the Digital Experience Maturity Index through the Najiz platform, reflecting advanced technical and institutional maturity.

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Indeed, the Kingdom's experience in employing AI within courts presents an important model for spreading digital awareness, and confirms that technology is not a substitute for humans but a means to empower them and enhance their role.

When these technologies are used within a clear regulatory framework and sound governance, they become a supporting element for justice and consistent with the message of 'digital giving' in empowering society digitally, enriching Arabic content, and building a sustainable technological awareness that keeps pace with modern developments and contributes to achieving development.