LIST AND Competition Authority PARTNER TO PIONEER AI-POWERED LEGAL TOOLS FOR COMPETITION LAW ENFORCEMENT

On Tuesday 24 September 2024, the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) and the Luxembourg Competition Authority have joined forces to develop an AI-based digital assistant designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of competition law enforcement.

This partnership stems from the shared vision of harnessing AI’s potential to advance the legal landscape. With growing volumes of data critical to competition law, traditional methods of investigation have become increasingly cumbersome. The collaboration between the Luxembourg Competition Authority and LIST seeks to address these challenges by integrating advanced AI tools into the legal workflow. By integrating LIST's AI-driven technologies and methodologies with the Authority's deep legal expertise and enforcement mechanisms, this collaboration could set a precedent for the future of law enforcement in Luxembourg.

Marco Estanqueiro, Vice-President of the Luxembourg Competition Authority, stated:

“As the digitization of the economy accelerates, competition authorities are increasingly confronted with new complex challenges. By partnering with LIST, we are embracing the potential of artificial intelligence to not only strengthen our investigative powers but also ensure that we keep pace with the tools and methods widely adopted by businesses in their business models and daily operations. In a world where data moves at unprecedented speed, these AI-driven tools will enable us to process and analyze massive datasets more efficiently, ensuring that our enforcement actions remain both fair and robust. This collaboration marks a pivotal step in safeguarding open and competitive markets for businesses and consumers alike in the digital age.”

Francesco Ferrero, Head of LIST’s Flagship Initiative on Artificial Intelligence, added:

“The development process will incorporate continuous user feedback to ensure the new digital assistant meets the needs of the Competition Authority. By integrating AI, data visualization, and user-friendly interfaces, LIST aims to create a robust solution tailored for legal professionals.”

As part of its AI research strategy, LIST will use its BESSER Bot Framework, which received support from the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), to address the needs of case handlers with higher explainability and accuracy than current large language models. Additionally, LIST’s data and document visualization tools, such as Papyrus, also supported by FNR, will be tested for their ability to improve data interpretation and enhance legal workflows.

Dirk Fransaer, CEO ad interim of LIST, concluded:

“This project demonstrates the innovative spirit of Luxembourg’s public and research institutions. By combining AI with regulatory expertise, we’re paving the way for smarter, more agile competition law enforcement.”