While artificial intelligence is far from perfect, its capabilities are undeniably impressive. In fact, the current abilities of AI have enabled a ChatGPT user to win a lawsuit.
A Case Won Thanks to ChatGPT and Perplexity
This story seems straight out of a soap opera, yet it is entirely true. In a remarkable turn of events, Lynn White—a Californian facing eviction—decided to seek assistance from ChatGPT and Perplexity to tackle her appeal. After losing her initial trial, Lynn found herself in a tough spot without a lawyer or the funds to defend herself in court. Thus, she turned to these AI tools for help.
Lynn White was behind on her rent and had initially lost her jury trial after receiving an eviction notice. Rather than continuing her collaboration with a local tenant advocacy group, she opted to use ChatGPT and the AI research platform Perplexity to represent herself in court. One might think this was a terrible idea. Yet, to everyone’s surprise, she ultimately prevailed, getting her eviction notice annulled and avoiding tens of thousands of dollars in fines.
According to reports, the AI tools analyzed her case to identify any procedural errors made by the judge. They also outlined steps to take for her ongoing legal battle and drafted the responses she needed to present during her trial, which were crucial to her successful appeal. In an interview with NBC News, Lynn White emphasized that AI played a crucial role in her victory, noting that without this technology, she likely would have lost her case.
Is AI Really About to Replace Humans in the Workforce?
This case highlights an intriguing aspect of the current debate surrounding AI’s role in the legal field. Lynn White’s victory is not only a personal triumph, but it also serves as a striking example of how consumer technologies can impact legal battles with severe consequences. While courts and legal experts caution against the dangers of misusing AI, this case illustrates its potential to make a difference, even if these instances remain generally isolated.
This story comes at a time when generative AI tools like ChatGPT are increasingly utilized in professional settings, spanning highly technical fields such as medicine, engineering, and aerospace, as well as human-centered domains like marketing, journalism, law, and even politics and religion. As the use and interest in AI continue to grow, caution is essential. It is important to remember that AI is primarily a tool, which means it cannot always guarantee the accuracy of information and certainly cannot replace human judgment.
Moreover, here’s how a war between artificial intelligence and humanity is likely to conclude.
