American attorney Steven A. Schwartz was retained by a client to represent him in a personal injury case against the airline Avianca. The claim claimed that Schwartz’s client had been struck in the knee by a service cart during a 2019 flight to Kennedy International Airport in New York.
Rather than follow conventional legal procedure, Schwartz made a surprising decision to rely on artificial intelligence to support his filing in Manhattan Federal Court. To back up his opposition to Avianca’s request, Schwartz submitted a 10-page legal document that included quotes from relevant court cases. However, all the quotes were found to be fake and AI-generated.
Lawyer admits his mistake: he delegated his work to ChatGPT
When Judge P. Kevin Castel discovered the deception, Schwartz admitted that he did not intend to mislead the court or the airline. He acknowledged his lack of experience with AI and regretted not verifying the authenticity of the citations generated by ChatGPT.
Judge Castel scheduled a follow-up hearing to discuss possible penalties related to Schwartz’s actions. The case is described as “an unprecedented circumstance” with court decisions and fake appointments. Furthermore, this incident could influence future cases related to the use of AI in the legal field.
Schwartz’s case, first reported by the New York Times, highlights the importance of fact-checking, even when using artificial intelligence. Although technology can be a useful tool, it is essential that legal professionals understand its limitations and ensure that the information generated is accurate and truthful.
Blind trust in technology can have serious repercussions, especially in legal situations. This incident reminds us of the importance of professional responsibility and diligence when using AI-based tools in legal settings.
The cost of legal errors
Mistakes in the legal field can have significant consequences for both professionals and their clients. Schwartz faces potential legal penalties for his mistake, highlighting the importance of accuracy and integrity in the legal system.
The lawyer Schwartz incident raises questions about the integration of AI in the legal field. As technology continues to advance, it is essential that legal professionals understand and properly monitor its use to avoid similar issues in the future.
This case offers an opportunity for learning and improvement in the application of AI in the legal field. Schwartz’s experience highlights the need for further education and training for legal professionals on the implications and limitations of artificial intelligence in their work.
By itself, artificial intelligence, in its most general and broad sense, can be a useful tool for legal work. Without going too far, there are already tools dedicated to this end. However, ChatGPT is a tool for general use, it is not a substitute for a specialized tool and, furthermore, the same platform warns that its results could be inaccurate, as it is still in a demonstration phase.
