AI helps Shenzhen judges boost case processing by 50%

Shenzhen, often hailed as China's Silicon Valley, is once again at the forefront of technological innovation, this time revolutionizing its judicial system. The Intermediate People's Court announced a significant leap in efficiency, with judges handling 50% more cases last year thanks to a pilot program powered by artificial intelligence.

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Judges in Shenzhen – China’s Silicon Valley – processed 50 per cent more cases last year than in 2024 with the help of a pilot system powered by AI technology.

This groundbreaking AI system, developed in-house in 2024, is not just a minor upgrade; it's a comprehensive judicial assistant. It leverages domain-specific large language models to streamline 85 different procedures across civil, administrative, and criminal litigation, from initial case filing to document preparation and court hearings. The results speak for themselves: Shenzhen judges became the most productive in Guangdong province, handling an average of 744 cases each in 2025, a substantial increase from the previous year.

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the artificial intelligence-driven system would now be introduced in the courts of dozens more Chinese cities.

The success in Shenzhen is poised for wider adoption, with plans to roll out the AI tool to courts in dozens of other Chinese cities. This move signals a national push towards leveraging advanced technology to enhance judicial efficiency and productivity. For China, this represents not just an improvement in legal processes but a testament to its growing prowess in AI development and application, reinforcing its position as a global tech leader.

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each judge in the city had handled an average of 744 cases in 2025 – up by 249 cases from the previous year.