COVID-19 and lockdowns have impacted many marriages negatively.

The Australian Government has supported the development of amica, an online app that helps separated couples sort out parenting and financial issues. An initiative of National Legal Aid and the Legal Services Commission of South Australia, amica uses artificial intelligence (AI) to make recommendations to the divorcing couple. (The Conversation)

How it works

According to the amica website, the app trains on legal principles and previous history. It applies this machine learning to the circumstances of each divorce. Since it draws upon a huge mass of data, the app can generally make well-considered recommendations in most cases.

However, amica is generally suitable for couples undergoing an amicable separation. It is beyond its depth in more complex situations such as where domestic violence is an issue.

Furthermore, the use of amica assumes a certain level of computer and internet literacy. This may be lacking in some partners. Other couples may not possess tech equipment such as a computer or a smartphone.

Again, there are apprehensions that such AI-powered tools may not be able to do right by the children, as they may focus on the issues confronting the parents.

Nonetheless, in a country like Australia, where courts suffer from an overload of cases, couples can use these apps to resolve their issues quickly and inexpensively. With the all-pervasive risk of coronavirus infections, going to court is also fraught with risk.

Moreover, one of the most important benefits of using these AI-powered divorce apps is the relatively less emotional distress involved. This is because couples feel in control of the process and do not have to face the intimidating environment of a court or lawyers’ chambers.

As the process is less distressing, the couples are likely to be more constructively aligned towards resolution of the issues.

COVID-19

Apps such as amica may have made their appearance just in time, because the virus outbreak has taken a toll on marriages.

About 42% of respondents said in a May survey by Relationships Australia that lockdowns had damaged their relationship.

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