Media Release: New Generative AI-powered Case Summarisation Tool to Help Small Claims Tribunals Users

1.  Individuals filing or responding to claims in the Small Claims Tribunals (SCT) of the Singapore Judiciary will soon have a new generative AI tool to help them. In collaboration with Harvey.AI, the Singapore Judiciary has developed a generative AI tool that summarises case documents for Tribunal Magistrates and individuals representing themselves in the SCT. This new feature, which builds on an earlier generative AI-powered document translation service, is part of a broader effort to use technology to enable better access to justice for everyone. 

Empowering Self Represented Persons (SRPs) to Handle Their Own Cases

2.  Established in 1985 under the Small Claims Tribunals Act, the SCT was set up to provide an avenue for consumers to seek quick redress against errant merchants in a less formal and inexpensive forum where they represent themselves in their claims. The generative AI tool will help them better navigate the justice process by:

• Improving Understanding: The generative AI tool provides clear and easy-to-read summaries of the case presented by both the claimant and the respondent, helping the parties understand the facts and evidence relied upon by each side, as well as the legal and factual issues raised.
  
• Supporting Preparation: By outlining the main points of each party’s positions, evidence and case theory, and the issues in contention, the tool empowers parties to articulate their arguments for trial in a more succinct and effective manner.
  

Making the Tribunal Process More Efficient

3.  With the increasing use of electronic messaging like WhatsApp messaging and emails, parties are putting in larger volumes of evidence. The new AI-generated summaries help Tribunal Magistrates prepare for trial, with a good understanding of the facts involved in each dispute.

4.  These efficiency gains are crucial for upholding the quality of justice. By streamlining the analysis of documents, the tool allows Tribunal Magistrates to focus their time and expertise on the more complex aspects of a case, ensuring that high standards of judicial adjudication are maintained even as the volume of claims continues to rise.

Ensuring a Fair and Secure Process

5.  The new generative AI tool is designed to support the individual’s journey through the justice process in the SCT. The tool assists individuals by helping them better understand a case and the next steps. The parties may negotiate and come to an amicable resolution of the dispute with the benefit of a better understanding of each other’s situation. The tool will be rolled out in phases, starting with Tribunal Magistrates today. Individuals who represent themselves at the SCT will be able to use the tool from November 2025 onwards, with the specific launch date to be announced in due course. The tool has been tested extensively, and robust measures are in place to safeguard all information. Case details are securely stored, and confidentiality is maintained at every step. Furthermore, the generative AI tool is carefully designed to provide factual summaries without offering case-specific “legal advice” to a court user.

Harnessing Digital Technology to Improve the Judicial Process

6.  "We are committed to harnessing the power of technology to improve access to justice for all. This new AI tool is a testament to that mission, helping our Tribunal Magistrates manage an increasing caseload while maintaining the Judiciary’s high standards of quality and fairness" said Mr Tan Ken Hwee, Chief Transformation and Innovation Officer.

7.  In August 2023, the Singapore Judiciary signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Harvey.AI to explore the use of generative AI technology for SCT cases. The initial deployment began with the introduction of on-demand translation capabilities in December 2024, allowing court users to obtain generative AI-powered translations of court documents in Chinese, Malay, and Tamil through a QR code system embedded in Notices of Consultation. This translation service was subsequently expanded in March 2025 to allow all documents filed by parties to be translated, to benefit users who are more comfortable reading in their preferred official language.

8.  The Singapore Judiciary and Harvey.AI have renewed and expanded their collaboration in a renewed MOU, signed on 8 September 2025.

9.  “It’s an honour to partner with the Singapore Judiciary, a recognised leader in judicial innovation, on this pivotal project", said Mr Winston Weinberg, CEO of Harvey. "From the very beginning, our shared vision has been to create a powerful, reliable tool that is not only rigorously tested and ready for deployment but also truly makes a difference. This initiative is a perfect example of how public-private partnerships can leverage cutting-edge technology to create a more efficient and equitable justice system for the public."