Artificial intelligence (AI) has been an important branch of computer science for more than three decades. AI has found applications in games like chess, natural language processing (NLP), robotics, social media, and so on. Several countries deploy AI in electronic governance (e-governance) applications, including China.

This book clearly presents how AI helped to modernize the judicial system in China. The author, Yadong Cui, is the former President of Shanghai Senior People’s Court; during his tenure, China introduced this AI-based modernization to Shanghai Senior People’s Court as a pilot study. They named the AI-based system “the 206 System.” The book was initially written in Chinese, in 2019; this is the English edition of the same.

This well-written book has three parts (15 chapters total). Part 1’s three chapters introduce various scopes and applications of AI and how they will help in modernizing the judicial system. Furthermore, these chapters provide information on various other countries that have adopted AI in e-governance, and the genesis of AI in general.

Part 2, the largest section, has eight chapters on the 206 System. Major case studies and topics covered in this part include an AI assistive system for handling criminal cases, and the design, orientation, and basic structure of the 206 System. This part of the book looks like a user manual for the 206 System. The author also shares various related technologies, such as deep learning, NLP, automatic speech recognition systems, and so on. Challenges faced when deploying the 206 System, including the effectiveness of the system, are discussed.

Part 3’s four short chapters cover some of the judicial system’s achievements thanks to scientific technologies and human-machine interaction.

The book provides user-level information and case studies; it does not explain scientific algorithms. Though this is the English edition, some figures still use Chinese. In summary, this is a well-written, interesting, and useful book for practicing engineers, researchers, and policymakers interested in China’s efforts at judicial modernization using AI.