Berlin Tests AI Tool to Expedite Asylum Cases and Modernize Judiciary

The initiative aims to streamline case research and transition courts to electronic systems by 2026.

Berlin's judiciary is piloting an AI-powered research tool to assist in asylum case decisions by compiling up-to-date information on applicants' home countries.
The AI tool, developed in collaboration with Lower Saxony, is designed to reduce the time judges spend on manual research while preserving judicial decision-making authority.
Berlin's courts are also transitioning to electronic case files, with over 100,000 files already digitized and a target to complete the shift by January 2026.
Challenges remain in digitizing criminal case files, with pilot projects underway and concerns about meeting the national deadline for full implementation.
The modernization effort is supported by a €41 million budget, with over 70% of the funds already utilized to enhance IT infrastructure and security.