Islamabad: Shari’ah Academy at the International Islamic University Islamabad hosted a public lecture examining the intersection of generative artificial intelligence and Islamic inheritance law. The event featured insights from Dr. Muhammad Zubair Abbasi of Royal Holloway University of London and AI expert Dr. Mirza Omer Beg, drawing a considerable audience both in-person and online.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akram, Director General of the Academy, opened the session by introducing the lecture as part of a new series aimed at addressing contemporary legal and societal challenges. He highlighted the increasing relevance of generative AI as a significant area of concern.

Dr. Abbasi’s presentation focused on the capabilities and limitations of generative AI tools in handling Islamic inheritance law. He evaluated four major AI platforms, noting that ChatGPT exhibited the highest accuracy rate at just over 80%. However, Dr. Abbasi cautioned that these tools struggle with complex scenarios and are prone to fabricating references, stressing the need for human oversight in sensitive legal areas.

Dr. Beg provided a comprehensive analysis of AI’s technical progression, noting the influence of leading tech companies like Google and Microsoft on AI platforms. He emphasized the ethical implications and potential biases arising from corporate alignments, urging continuous scrutiny by scholars and policymakers.

The lecture concluded with an engaging question-and-answer session, where attendees discussed the future role of AI in Islamic legal frameworks. Prof. Dr. Akram expressed appreciation for the speakers’ contributions and affirmed the importance of ongoing dialogue on technology’s impact on Islamic law.