AI for Trial Lawyers?
AI-Powered Legal Eagle Grounded: A Twist in the Tale of Tech and Law
An AI-driven "robot" lawyer, a pioneer in its field, was all set to assist a defendant in a traffic violation case next month. However, the groundbreaking initiative has been put on hold. The reason? "State Bar prosecutors" have threatened the innovator behind the chatbot, Joshua Browder, CEO of DoNotPay, with a potential jail sentence. Browder took to Twitter on Wednesday, announcing that his company is "postponing our court case and sticking to consumer rights."
Safety First: The AI Lawyer Stays Out of Court
Browder has decided not to send his company's robot lawyer to court. This AI marvel, designed to run on a smartphone, listen to court arguments, and formulate responses for the defendant, was meant to guide the defendant in real-time via headphones. However, Browder believes that the potential risk of a six-month jail term outweighs the novelty of introducing the first robot lawyer in court. This move has sparked a backlash from lawyers, indicating that legal professionals are wary of AI-powered chatbots encroaching on their territory.
A Historic Moment Postponed
The AI lawyer was scheduled to take on its inaugural case on February 22, as Browder had announced on Twitter. He had tweeted, "On February 22nd at 1.30PM, history will be made. For the first time ever, a robot will represent someone in a US courtroom. DoNotPay A.I will whisper in someone's ear exactly what to say. We will release the results and share more after it happens. Wish us luck!" However, he did not disclose the client's name or the court's location.
DoNotPay: The AI Champion for Consumer Rights
DoNotPay has already leveraged AI-generated form letters and chatbots to help people secure refunds for non-functional in-flight WiFi, lower bills, and contest parking tickets, according to Browder. In total, the company has used these AI templates to win over 2 million customer service disputes and court cases against institutions and organizations on behalf of individuals.
A Tech Powerhouse Backed by Venture Capital
DoNotPay has raised a whopping $27.7 million from tech-focused venture capital firms, including Andreessen Horowitz and Crew Capital. "In the past year, AI tech has really developed and allowed us to go back and forth in real time with corporations and governments," Browder told CBS MoneyWatch about recent advancements. "We spoke live [with companies and customer service reps] to lower bills with companies; and what we're doing next month is try to use the tech in a courtroom for the first time."
The Legal Tech Landscape: A Mixed Bag
Some courts allow defendants to wear hearing aids, some versions of which are Bluetooth-enabled. That's how Browder determined that DoNotPay's technology could legally be used in this case. However, the tech that powers DoNotPay isn't legal in most courtrooms. Some states require that all parties consent to be recorded, which rules out the possibility of a robot lawyer entering many courtrooms. Of the 300 cases DoNotPay considered for a trial of its robot lawyer, only two were feasible, Browder said.
AI Goes to Law School: A New Era of Legal Representation
The ultimate goal of a "robot" lawyer, according to Browder, is to democratize legal representation by making it free for those who can't afford it, potentially eliminating the need for expensive attorneys. "What we are trying to do is automate consumer rights," Browder said. "New technologies typically fall into the hands of big companies first, and our goal is to put it in the hands of the people first."
However, given that the technology is illegal in many courtrooms, Browder doesn't expect to be able to commercialize the product any time soon. When he initially announced that DoNotPay's robot lawyer would appear in court, lawyers threatened him and told him he'd be sent to jail, he told CBS MoneyWatch. "There are a lot of lawyers and bar associations that would not support this," Browder said.
ChatGPT: From High School to Law School
Browder aims to equip individuals with the same tools that large corporations typically have access to but are out of reach for those without substantial resources. AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT has recently gained popularity for its ability to produce coherent essays on a wide range of topics in less than a minute. The technology has attracted investor interest, with Microsoft announcing a multibillion-dollar investment in parent company OpenAI. However, Browder pointed out its limitations and, in some cases, lack of sophistication. "ChatGPT is very good at holding conversations, but it's terrible at knowing the law. We've had to retrain these AIs to know the law," Browder said. "AI is a high school student, and we're sending it to law school."
Democratizing Legal Aid: A Vision for the Future
Browder's vision is to democratize legal representation, making it free for those who can't afford it. In some cases, this could eliminate the need for costly attorneys. "What we are trying to do is automate consumer rights," Browder said. "New technologies typically fall into the hands of big companies first, and our goal is to put it in the hands of the people first."
Legal Roadblocks: The Challenges Ahead
However, given that the technology is illegal in many courtrooms, Browder doesn't expect to be able to commercialize the product any time soon. When he initially announced that DoNotPay's robot lawyer would appear in court, lawyers threatened him and told him he'd be sent to jail, he told CBS MoneyWatch. "There are a lot of lawyers and bar associations that would not support this," Browder said.
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