Agentic AI Aims to Cut Brazil’s Legal Bottlenecks Over 13 Years
Brazil faces a staggering 80.6 million-case judicial backlog, highlighting procedural inefficiencies that pose significant economic risks by delaying legal certainty and investment opportunities. In contrast, Mexico deals with similar issues of court congestion and fiscal constraints, particularly amidst disputes driven by nearshoring. Here, Agentic AI emerges as a scalable solution, capable of accelerating resolutions without the need to expand public payrolls.
This technological shift impacts multiple sectors, including the judiciary, legal services, cloud providers, and investors. It also elevates the importance of AI governance, transparency, and regulatory oversight.
Current Situation of the Brazilian Judiciary
In 2024, the Brazilian Judiciary managed to resolve 44.8 million cases. While this figure is impressive, it falls short against the overwhelming backlog of 80.6 million pending records. The deployment of Agentic AI has the potential to dramatically reduce the estimated case resolution time from fifteen years to just two years, fundamentally transforming legal operations from basic digitalization to autonomous agency.
The inefficiency within the Brazilian legal system is not due to a lack of human effort but stems from outdated operational models that cannot cope with the volume of demand. As Gustavo de Paula, Country Manager of Xertica.ai, states, “The question that the state and private initiative must answer is not how to work more, but how to work differently.”
With a public budget of approximately BRL 689 (US$125) per inhabitant allocated for system maintenance, expanding the legal workforce is becoming fiscally unsustainable.
The Technical Contradiction
Despite operating with a positive annual balance—resolving more cases than the number entering—this surplus of 5.4 million processes per year is negligible compared to the backlog. At the current resolution rate, the complete elimination of this backlog would only be achievable by 2040.
This operational inefficiency not only affects bureaucracy but also represents a significant macroeconomic risk. Legal proceedings in Brazil average a completion time of seven years, fostering an environment of legal uncertainty that deters foreign direct investment (FDI) and halts capital flow across various sectors.
The Role of Agentic AI
While Generative AI focuses on content creation based on statistical probabilities, often leading to inaccuracies, Agentic AI functions as an autonomous agent within a controlled technical ecosystem. This technology analyzes vast datasets, identifies patterns in repetitive processes, and prepares draft decisions that strictly adhere to established legal precedents. As de Paula notes, judges can transition to being strategic reviewers, focusing on legal complexities rather than data processing.
Key Features of Agentic AI
- Massive Data Analysis: Capable of processing the entire inventory of cases to identify patterns.
- Respect for Jurisprudence: Generates draft decisions consistent with legal precedents.
- Role of the Magistrate: Judges are relieved from routine data tasks, allowing them to concentrate on equity and complexity in legal matters.
The effectiveness of this technology has been validated through specific implementations, such as in the Ministry of Environment of Minas Gerais (SEMAD), where AI integration resulted in an 83% reduction in response times for institutional processes.
Architecture and Implementation
The solutions’ architecture relies on high-reliability models. Established in 2016, Xertica.ai, recognized as a Google Cloud partner in Latin America, developed the X-Factor model with support from the MIT G-Lab. This model accelerates the adoption of cloud technology, enhancing productivity in crucial sectors like justice, health, and education.
With operations spanning eight countries and projected revenues of US$120 million for 2024, Xertica.ai applies solutions that range from risk monitoring to advanced legal data management, focused on responsible technology use to generate positive societal impacts.
The Necessity of Agentic AI
The widespread implementation of technological agency is the sole identified path to reduce the backlog from 2040 to 2026. By automating repetitive tasks, the Brazilian Judiciary can process the accumulated inventory of 80.6 million cases at an exponentially faster rate than manual methods.
Agentic technology is no longer an optional enhancement but an essential requirement for maintaining the rule of law and ensuring economic stability in Brazil.
As highlighted in a National Library of Medicine (NIH) article, AI has the potential to mitigate human limitations, particularly in eliminating biases and emotional influences that can distort judgment. However, the use of AI in judicial contexts must navigate unique challenges, including algorithmic bias and transparency issues.
AI systems trained on historical data may inadvertently perpetuate existing prejudices, threatening the impartiality of legal rulings. Additionally, the black-box problem presents significant barriers to accountability, as the logic behind an algorithm’s decisions often remains opaque, making it difficult to meet the stringent transparency standards required in a courtroom.
