Digitalization as a direction of development of the state and law: essence, prospects, risks

The concept of digitalization is considered, its multifaceted and contradictory nature is noted, as well as its positive impact on the ability of different branches of government to perform functions. A number of digital technologies are highlighted, which, according to the author, will prove to be the most significant in terms of use in the public legal sphere in the foreseeable future. The discussion on the possibility of making judicial decisions based on artificial intelligence technologies is considered, in particular, the arguments “for” and “against” the use of this technology as the basis of justice are noted. The hypothesis about the possibility of making judicial decisions in the future based on artificial intelligence technologies is expressed and substantiated. Special attention is paid to understanding the issues of responsibility in the context of making unlawful decisions using artificial intelligence. The issues of prospects for the development of e-government technologies are touched upon, the risks of the emergence of unlimited digital power are noted. The threats to such fundamental state-legal ideas as the power of the people, the electability of power, the changeability of power, its limitations and the division into three branches are emphasized. It is concluded that artificial intelligence technologies pose the greatest risks to the public legal sphere, the use of which, for these reasons, is proposed to be limited to the extent necessary to preserve the ethical and moral values of society.