Thio Shen Yi (SC) was interviewed by Sarah Wong for the August 2025 edition of Asian Legal Business. The feature, which included insights from other senior lawyers from Helmsman and Oon & Bazul, explored how technology—particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital tools—has been transforming Singapore’s dispute resolution landscape.

In the piece, Shen Yi offered a distinctive perspective on the impact of AI in legal practice. While other panellists focused on operational enhancements such as paperless workflows, e-discovery, and improved efficiency, Shen Yi argued that true transformation had yet to occur. He noted that although technology had streamlined processes like document management, it had not fundamentally changed legal thinking or the structure of law firms. He cautioned against overstating AI’s current capabilities and suggested that its most meaningful impact would lie in reshaping the profession, including leaner teams, new performance metrics, and updated training models for junior lawyers.

What set Shen Yi’s viewpoint apart was his forward-looking vision of AI as a catalyst for deeper, systemic change rather than just a tool for convenience. He envisioned AI freeing up lawyers’ time to focus on higher-level strategy and encouraging more creative, polycentric approaches to dispute resolution rather than relying on traditional, linear methods. He also highlighted changes in courtroom advocacy, noting that digital hearings require sharper preparation and more disciplined delivery.

His insights went beyond the adoption of legal technology, pointing instead to a future where AI reshapes workflows, legal culture, and the very definition of lawyering.