UK Judges Embrace OpenAI’s ChatGPT for Writing Rulings

Judges in England and Wales can now use OpenAI’s ChatGPT to write rulings, making it one of the first few countries to allow AI in judicial procedures. The UK Judicial Office issued a guidance announcing its decision to embrace AI, highlighting its potential utility in writing judgments and more. The six-page document released by the UK Judicial Office addresses the various security and legal concerns that may arise while using AI. The guidance emphasizes the importance of upholding confidentiality, privacy, accuracy, and preventing bias. While AI has found success in automating tasks and data analysis, its application in the legal sector is still under scrutiny. Summarizing large bodies of text poses challenges, especially in deciphering legalese. AI chatbots also struggle with reasoning and comparisons, prompting the guidance to caution judges to avoid relying on them for such tasks. However, simpler functions like composing emails and seeking presentation suggestions are considered suitable for AI. The incorporation of AI in judicial procedures marks a notable expansion of its influence, as the legal system has historically remained relatively isolated from such technology. However, concerns have been raised regarding the potential pitfalls of AI, particularly in a domain as sensitive as the law. Past incidents, such as lawyers citing fictitious cases due to the creative freedom taken by AI chatbots like Microsoft’s ChatGPT, highlight the risks. Generative AI chatbots are known to fabricate information at times, making the accuracy and reliability of their output questionable. As a result, the judiciary must exercise caution when integrating AI into its processes. By navigating these challenges and embracing the potential benefits of AI in writing rulings, UK judges are pioneering the integration of technology within the legal system.