CADE launches AI project for merger reviews

The Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) started the implementation of the project Competition Defence with Artificial Intelligence (D.E.I.A, in Portuguese), an initiative aimed at implementing the use of AI in administrative proceedings.

The project aims to develop a set of technological tools capable of assisting with activities such as analysing documents, sorting cases, identifying patterns, and giving support to administrative proceedings in general. The initiative also establishes the development of AI models focused on CADE’s typical necessities, such as merger reviews and the detection of potential signs of anticompetitive conducts.

Among DEIA's areas of operation is the integration of smart features into the Brazilian Electronic Information System (SEI), including features like automatic document classification, draft suggestions, automatic content extraction, and summarisation, besides predictive analytics tools on deadlines and procedural risks.

According to Bruna Cardoso, head of the Management Office (DAP) at CADE, the project represents one step towards the modernisation of the agency. “Using artificial intelligence does not override the civil servant's technical work, but it can be an important support to expand our analytical capabilities and improve processes. The idea is to strategically implement the new technology, always under human supervision, aligned with transparency and responsibility in the public service”, she stated.

In addition to developing technological solutions, the project also includes initiatives aimed at training staff and employees in the responsible use of AI. Therefore, the goal is to share knowledge on the AI applications in the context of competition policy, fostering an institutional environment that is prepared to explore the technology’s potential safely and responsibly, taking into account aspects related to data governance and information security.

Through DEIA, the authority is able to join digital transformations that impact the Brazilian government and promote more competitive, efficient, and innovative markets.

Digital transformation

DEIA is part of CADE’s Digital Transformation Plan, which receives investment from the Fund for De Facto Joint Rights (FDD), and lasts until December 2026.

Among the already implemented initiatives under the plan is Cade Digital app, providing features such as a case law search function, with access to decisions and documents, external access to the SEI system, allowing users to track administrative proceedings and information on the hearings, including the calendar, live streams, and requests for oral arguments.

The Business Intelligence (BI) panel of the “Circuito Deliberativo Virtual” system, which allows the monitoring of decisions made by the Tribunal of CADE, as well as the acquisition of new firewall equipment to strengthen the security of the agency's IT systems, are among the objectives already achieved under the digital transformation plan.

Another important release is the third version of the Case Law Search Tool, which includes advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence features, allowing for automatic document indexing. In addition, the tool offers periodic scheduling managed by CADE's procedural operation, especially for case updates or new documents added for consultation, reinforcing the agency's commitment to the continuous improvement of its digital public services