Updated 01/30/2023: We added a paragraph about the AI retreat from the courtroom to the article.
original item: It is an unusual thought to imagine a court hearing and instead of a smartly dressed person with a law degree and a state exam, having some kind of robot in mind. At least that’s what the AI is called: as a »Robot Lawyer«.
This is to be used for the first time in a US court in February to defend two defendants newsscientist.com recently reported. How this is supposed to work in court is explained in this article.
However, AIs not only have the potential to replace lawyers (or at least complement them), but also many other professional fields. Authors of children’s books, like colleague Sören, for example. He checked out how well ChatGPT can copy his book:
more on the subject
I let ChatGPT rewrite my book and I’m horrified
What is the Lawyer AI all about?
DoNotPay is the US company that developed the AI - at the same time it is also the name of the AI. According to CEO Joshua Browder, DoNotPay is the world’s first “robber attorney”. The previous purpose of the AI: To help users with free legal advice on minor matters such as traffic tickets or refunds. However, it has never been used in court.
“Lawyers charge hundreds of dollars an hour to copy a few documents. Our vision with DoNotPay is to make the law free.«
Joshua Browder, CEO DoNotPay
From February, the AI will no longer only be there to provide advice, but will communicate with clients directly in the courtroom via Bluetooth headphones and tell them what to say. What happens in the hall is allegedly recorded by the microphone in the headphones. DoNotPay should therefore react to events in real time and thus be able to replace a conventional lawyer.
DoNotPay keeps detailed information about the court proceedings under lock and key. Laut Cnet two clients are now to be represented who want to defend themselves against traffic tickets. When it comes to criminal defense, artificial intelligence will initially stick to topics with which it is familiar – after all, it has already provided clients with at least advisory support in these processes.
Is that also conceivable in Europey?
(Bild: Tara Winstead)
AIs are already being used in some areas of legal practice, like this Lawyer’s Journal reports. For example in forensics or chat bots such as Advobot.
Since the legal profession in Europey is considered a free profession, the sea § 1 PartGG »natural persons« must be executed, an AI lawyer in Europey seems unlikely at first.
In principle, you can represent yourself in court in Europey. There is however Limits from the legislature. Headphones that only play a supporting role while you represent yourself would be more conceivable in this respect. However, it will not replace the lawyer. Rather, we assume that it will speed up processes by having the AIs lend a hand to the lawyers.
In the case of DoNotPlay, according to Joshua Browder, it wasn’t easy to find a court where they could do this test. Only two of the 300 requests were accepted. That’s supposedly because most courts need to get permission from all parties involved to be recorded. That rules out an AI, like cbsnews.com reports.
Update: AI company withdraws after threat of imprisonment
Actually, the first trial with an AI as a lawyer was supposed to take place on February 22nd. DoNot Pay, the company behind the AI, has come out loud npr.org however withdrawn from the proceedings.
Several state bar associations have threatened us. One even said that a referral to the prosecutor’s office and prosecution and imprisonment would be possible.
Joshua Browder, CEO von DoNotPay
Browder does not reveal exactly which state bar associations are involved. However, he states that several bar associations are investigating DoNotPay, among other things, because of possible illegal exercise of the right.
Rather than focusing on the courtroom, DoNotPay will reportedly focus on helping people who need help with expensive medical bills or unwanted subscriptions.
Outside the courtroom, artificial intelligence is now being used as a crystal ball. Colleague Nils risked a look into the future:
I asked an AI who would rule the world in 100 years – and her answer was shocking
What do you think of such uses of AIs? Would you use an AI to represent you in court? Would you do it now if it were possible? Write it to us in the comments!
