Emerging Technology’s Language Wars: AI and Criminal Justice

Abstract

Work at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence systems (AI systems) and criminal justice suffers from a distinct linguistic disadvantage. As a highly interdisciplinary area of inquiry, researchers, law-makers, software developers, engineers, judges, and the public all talk past each other, using the same words, but as different terms of art. Evidence of these language wars largely derives from anecdote. To better assess the nature and scope of the problem, this Article uses corpus linguistics to reveal the inherent value conflicts embedded in definitional differences and debates. Doing so offers a tool for reconciling specific linguistic ambiguities before they are embedded in law and ensures more effective communication of the technical pre-requisites for AI systems that, by design, seek to achieve their intended purpose while also upholding core democratic values in the criminal justice system.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence systems, AI, Legal terminology, Corpus linguistics, Criminal justice system, Interdisciplinary research, Miscommunication, Technological competencies, Emerging technologies, Values