澳大新語 • 2023 UMAGAZINE 27 50 人物專訪 • EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW who possess it. That is why today’s law students must develop strong digital literacy skills, which are not just about understanding cutting-edge tools, but also include the ability to consider technology’s broader societal impact. Prof Yu identifies a significant issue with the current use of AI in law - the ‘black box’ nature of most algorithms. Although these algorithms can provide answers to queries, they do not explain how they arrived at their conclusions. While ‘explainable AI’ technology is in development, it has not yet reached maturity. Prof Yu adds that AI also lacks moral considerations, which is crucial in legal work. He says that moral considerations, which are key to the work of judges and lawyers, help ensure that laws align with social values and expectations. While moral considerations do not have a definitive right or wrong answer, they must align with the fundamental principles of human nature. To illustrate this point, he refers to a previous case where a man killed his grandfather to inherit his estate. Although from a legal standpoint, the man was allowed to inherit the estate, most people considered it morally wrong. Eventually, a judge applied the 'unjust enrichment' principle In a world where rapidly evolving technology commands the spotlight, Yu Xingzhong, director of the Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (IAS) and chair professor of the Department of Global Legal Studies at the University of Macau (UM), asserts that true power lies within the human mind. As society navigates the uncharted waters of AI development, he urges everyone to cultivate their uniquely human qualities, including empathy and morality, as they can never be replicated by machines. Tech's Role in Shaping Legal Education and Practice With almost three decades of experience researching the impact of technology on law, Prof Yu began exploring the application of artificial intelligence for legal reasoning in 1994. He takes a ‘technological realist’ view, avoiding speculation about technology’s potential utopian outcomes and instead concentrating on practical solutions based on the capabilities and limitations of existing technologies. Prof Yu notes that AI is making significant progress in many areas of law, including legal compliance evaluation, contract drafting, and sentencing prediction. He believes that lawyers who lack technological proficiency will be replaced by those 於興中教授（右）主持一場圓桌會議，與傳播、法律和科技領域的澳大教授探討大型語言模型對社會的影響。 Prof Yu Xingzhong (right) moderates a roundtable discussion on the societal implications of large language models, featuring insights from UM professors in communication, law, and technology
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