The current context is to artificial intelligence as the steam engine was to the Industrial Revolution. If AI is transforming various sectors, it can and must also have an impact on the legislative process.
In this direction Aptus.AI, a start-up active in the regtech sector, promoted the initiative ‘For an AI-proof regulation’ by presenting it at the Press Room of the Chamber of Deputies. During the event, Aptus.AI presented its manifesto, an appeal to Italian institutions, and all interested and involved operators, to adopt machine-readable formats in regulation which enable their digital use and analysis through artificial intelligence models.
The main obstacle to the integration of AI in legal documents is in fact their current format, which imposes constraints and uncertainties. The adoption of machine-readable would be the ideal solution, as it would allow a structured digital representation of legal texts. “To date, regulations are published in outdated formats that are not readable by AI,” says Andrea Tesei, CEO and co-founder of Aptus.AI.
In order for artificial intelligence to be applied in accordance with existing regulatory standards, such as the European AI Act, the entire body of legislation will have to be converted to this new format. According to Tesei, this could position Italy as a pioneer country in this field. “The use of AI in Italian legislation will be able to help not only non-professionals,” added Giulia Pastorella, such as companies for internal compliance and, more generally, citizens, “but also insiders,” such as politicians and lawyers, who will be able to better follow the legislative process.
Today, several international technical standards already exist for the structured representation of legal, judicial and administrative documents. Among these, Akoma Ntoso, also adopted in Italy and developed by researchers at the University of Bologna, represents a valid model. During the conference, Salvatore Sapienza, a researcher at the Department of Legal Sciences at the University of Bologna, emphasised that “using the documents already processed with Akoma Ntoso could constitute a useful starting database for generative AI.” Indeed, the standardisation of normative texts would allow a better management of meta-data and a more effective integration with language models.
Aptus.AI’s initiative was applauded by several institutional figures. The Honourable Giulio Centemero says: ‘Of this manifesto, I appreciate the simplicity with which it gets straight to the point. I believe that the enactment of laws in machine-readable format can bring about a step change in making the lawmaking process more effective, but I also consider it relevant that the aid of technology and AI can ultimately be a form of further protection for the citizen because it allows the government, as well as all parties affected by change, to understand the impact that regulations may have on territories or economic sectors, on the lives of citizens or the environment, and on many other aspects. This is why I see the approach proposed by the Manifesto as a tool for amplifying democracy’.
Senator Lorenzo Basso also underlined the importance of the initiative, stating that ‘a clearer and more accessible regulatory system strengthens trust in institutions and enables citizens to participate more actively in decision-making’.
The benefits of this technology and initiatives such as Aptus.AI could have multiple applications in the legal and regulatory sector. For example, they could speed up regulatory research for the benefit of the judiciary and the courts, or contribute to greater accessibility of international legislation, facilitating trade and reducing regulatory risks for companies, which are required to comply with the regulations of the countries in which they operate.
Thus, making legislation machine-readable would represent a strategic opportunity for Italy, improving the efficiency of the legislative system and promoting greater transparency and accessibility of laws. (photo by Xavier Cee on Unsplash)
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