ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) platform used for legal research and preparing court briefs, has hit a snag in a New York courtroom. In a recent case, lawyers discovered that the platform was not yet capable of fulfilling the role of a junior associate.
The case in question centers around Roberto Mata, who sued Avianca Airlines after he was struck on the knee by a metal serving cart while on a flight from El Salvador to New York in August 2019. Mata’s legal team, Levidow, Levidow & Oberman, filed the suit on his behalf, but Avianca sought to have the claim dismissed, arguing that Mata had filed it too late.
As part of their preparations for the case, Mata’s lawyers turned to ChatGPT to assist with legal research and crafting court briefs. However, the platform was not yet sophisticated enough to handle the task. In an article by Benjamin Weiser called Here’s What Happens When Your Lawyer Uses ChatGPT, the limitations of the AI platform are made clear.
The case sheds light on the limitations of AI when it comes to legal research and representation. While AI platforms are being increasingly used in the legal field, it appears that they are not yet capable of replacing human lawyers entirely.
Despite the challenges, AI remains an exciting tool for the legal profession. As technology continues to develop, it is likely that AI platforms like ChatGPT will become even more sophisticated, making them an even more valuable tool for lawyers. However, for now, it appears that human legal expertise is still necessary for cases like Mata’s.
