A recent litigation involving the airlines Avianca and Roberto Mata has caused a stir. When Avianca attempted to have Mata’s case dismissed, Mata’s lawyers submitted a 10-page brief filled with citations from various court decisions. Suspicions arose after none of the citations could be found. It was then discovered that the lawyer, Steven A. Schwartz of the firm Levidow, Levidow & Oberman had utilized ChatGPT’s artificial intelligence program for his legal research. Upon realizing the error of his ways, Schwartz came forward with an affidavit stating his initial intent had not been to deceive anyone, but simply to obtain legal citations. He expressed his regret and said he would never utilize such technology again without verification of its authenticity.
Judge P. Kevin Castel deemed this an “unprecedented circumstance,” and will be holding a hearing to discuss potential sanctions. This case raises the prospect of robots entering white collar work in the near future, displacing many knowledge workers in the process.
Avianco Inc. is an airline based in Bogota, Colombia and has been in operation since 1919. It is the largest airline in Colombia by fleet size and passengers carried. It believes in providing a personalized service, with a commitment to safety, innovation and sustainability.
Steven A. Schwartz is an attorney with Levidow, Levidow & Oberman, a law firm based in New York. He is a prominent figure in the corporate litigation area, specializing in white collar defense. In the past, he has represented several companies and high-profile individuals embroiled in legal disputes. After realizing the mistake that was made in the Mata case, Schwartz gave an affidavit expressing his deep regret and apologizing for his misstep. He promised that he will never rely on artificial intelligence without absolute verification in the future.
