From Conversations to Collaborations
Mohit Mokal Takes Us through His Five Days Spent in Kochi at The Residency
Allow me to share my journey through the OpenNyAI Makers Residency program, where I represented JustAI, a platform dedicated to empowering individuals with AI-driven legal support.
The Challenge: Bridging the Gap in Indian Justice
Picture this: accessing justice in India can feel like scaling a steep mountain. The Indian judiciary grapples with a host of issues that create formidable barriers for citizens seeking legal remedies. Delays, exorbitant costs, and a general lack of legal awareness combine to form daunting obstacles for individuals navigating the complex legal system. It was in this challenging landscape that JustAI found its purpose.
Revolutionising Legal Landscape with AI
JustAI, at its core, is a groundbreaking platform that harnesses the potential of artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technology to transform India's legal landscape. Imagine an AI/ML software that offers personalised advice for dispute resolution, providing users with insights into projected timelines, costs, and the likelihood of success for litigation, arbitration, and mediation options. This technology empowers individuals to make informed decisions, enabling them to optimise their legal strategies for the best possible outcomes.
Seamless Connection to Legal Experts
Navigating the labyrinthine world of legal expertise is often daunting, but JustAI simplifies this journey. The platform seamlessly connects users with legal service providers, considering specific criteria such as budget, language, jurisdiction, experience, and specialised practice areas. This ensures that users are paired with legal experts who truly understand their unique needs.
OpenNyAI Makers Residency: A Collaborative Learning Journey
My adventure took an exciting turn when I received an invitation to the OpenNyAI Makers Residency in July 2023. Over five days, this remarkable event brought together professionals from the realms of access to justice and technology. Yet, it wasn't just another conference but a convergence of like-minded individuals driven by a shared mission to bring about positive global change.
A Playground of Ideas
Throughout the Residency, participants from diverse backgrounds gathered to share their projects and connect. The atmosphere resembled a playground of boundless possibilities, where creativity and innovation knew no limits. Expert mentors facilitated sidebars that delved deep into the world of AI and technology, igniting fresh perspectives and inspiring innovative concepts.
Inspirational Encounters & Learning from Mentors
My journey was enriched by meaningful encounters with mentors who left an indelible mark on my thinking. I was fortunate to be paired with Nikhil Narendran, a Partner at Trilegal, a leading Indian law firm. Nikhil swiftly grasped the essence of our project and provided invaluable insights on how we could enhance our legal service providers’ directory. Our discussion spawned multiple ideas for improving the directory and recommendation engine, enriching our understanding of how it could also serve as a feeder for Online Dispute Resolution service providers.
My next encounter was with Deepak Paramanand, Director of AI at JP Morgan. Deepak’s charisma and profound insights were apparent within minutes of my conversation with him. He emphasised the significance of storytelling, highlighting that it’s not just about building something groundbreaking but also effectively communicating its purpose and narrative. Deepak encouraged us to identify the problem clearly to ensure that our solutions and pitches would have a more significant impact. This pivotal moment prompted me to let go of my initial story and imagine something more ambitious.
Three of the significant additions to our platform– Pro-Bono Engagement, Multilingual Interaction with Bhashini, and Government Schemes and Legal Aid with Jugalbandi – came through a discussion with Hanae Baruchel, a Senior Change Leader for Ashoka’s global Tech and humanity initiative. I sought her insights on building our AI responsibly, and her unique perspective prompted me to think more critically about inclusivity and accessibility.
Engaging with numerous technologists in the same space eventually prompted me to embark on a journey to learn basic Python through Fast.ai and explore the use of Frappe. I met Karanraj M, an App Developer from Thoughtworks working with the OpenNyAI team, and Rashmi, a developer from Thomson Reuters. Both proved immensely helpful in guiding me on techniques for data scraping from the internet, integrating different APIs, and gaining a deeper understanding of backend development. Despite coming from a non-tech background, their patience and kindness enabled me to learn and adapt quickly.
While all these encounters were impactful, none compared to my time with Saurabh Karn, Senior Curator at Agami and Lead at OpenNyAI. Beyond being a mentor, Saurabh became a friend with whom I spent several evenings brainstorming ideas. We explored concepts of growth and the future, with one particularly memorable idea being starting a country together! Despite his celebrity status in the legal AI space in India, Saurabh dedicated as much time as I needed. He helped me realise the vast potential of our project and instilled confidence in our vision. He encouraged us to look beyond the Indian market and aim for the stars.
Play beyond the Residency - Evenings at Kochi
The evenings following the sessions at the TinkerSpace were vibrant and lively. On the first day, during dinner with both new and familiar faces, I found myself unexpectedly hosting the open mic session. I began the evening with casual introductions, facilitating a short ice-breaking game to help participants get to know each other better. We also shared stories about one another to introduce everyone to the larger group. The highlight of the evening was Deepak’s stand-up comedy set. Following his act, we invited other participants to showcase their talents, resulting in two songs performed by Vijay and Abhilash, along with some captivating stories! After the open mic session, I made new friends in Kushagra and Kiran, who found time to innovate new solutions despite being under a hectic law school schedule!
Another memorable evening unfolded when I got to know the OpenNyAI team behind Jugalbandi. After dinner, Smita, Saurabh, and I ventured out for a walk and ended up chatting on my balcony over tea. My roommate, Karan, was already there. I was captivated by the journey of Jugalbandi and how it was crafted. I learned about the challenges the team had overcome and their collective sense of pride in their work. This was the first time I wanted to know more about the technology underpinning AI development.
The balcony became a memorable place for me, filled with beautiful moments. Rushil, Saurabh, Surya, and I sparked our entrepreneurial imaginations here as we discussed how to establish a space for technology development—a country powered by blockchain that mined cryptocurrencies on a grand scale using geothermal, solar, and tidal energy. We envisioned a nation where we could set up our government and make it a hub for trade and technology. The excitement lingered until our departure, and this idea, while pending development and shrouded in confidentiality, held immense unexplored potential!
The final day of the Residency was a bittersweet one. On one hand, I was looking forward to heading to Chennai to meet my mentor, Mr Sriram Panchu, and reunite with friends. On the other hand, I had to bid farewell to the incredible friends I had made during this journey. I sat on the balcony with Shreya, Surya, Saurabh, Kushagra, Kiran, and others, watching the sunset when a momentous event unfolded - The Mediation Bill 2021, pending in parliament for over two years, was suddenly tabled and passed. I had the privilege of watching this live online and sharing it with my new friends, all of whom understood just how much it meant to me. We indulged ourselves, overeating at dinner but with our hearts full of joy. It was the perfect send-off to this incredible journey!
A Unified Mission
As the five-day Residency came to an end, participants left with new ideas and lasting friendships. Although everyone returned to their individual endeavours, the Residency united us in a larger mission—a mission to transform how justice is accessed. I sincerely thank the Agami team, including Sachin Malhan, Varun Hemachandran, Saurabh Karn, Smita Gupta, Tanya Mayal, and Atreyo Banerjee, for making this transformative experience possible.
JustAI: Pioneering Accessible Justice
And so, JustAI’s journey continues, fueled by the vision of making justice accessible to all. With AI-driven insights, seamless expert connections, and an unwavering commitment to inclusivity, our platform stands as a beacon of hope in the complex legal landscape, ready to make a difference in the lives of individuals seeking justice.