YOU SHOULD NEVER GET LEGAL ADVICE FROM AI AND CHAT GPT IS NOT CONFIDENTIAL
By Brett E. Jones, Esq. and Sarah Kimbark
In recent years, artificial intelligence tools have become widely accessible, offering quick answers. But while AI is useful for general information, it should never replace advice from a licensed attorney, especially when you are dealing with issues over finances and your family.
Below are the key reasons why getting legal advice from AI can put you and your case at serious risk.
- AI Does Not Know the Law in Your Jurisdiction
Laws vary dramatically between states and can even be different from county to county depending on how particular Judges interpret and apply the law. When asking AI for legal information, AI does not guarantee the accuracy of the information it is providing, and does not necessarily provide the information for your state, or know when statutory changes have been made. Furthermore, every family situation is different, and AI does not have the capacity to understand and interpret the very detailed nuances in some of the laws that apply in divorce and separation matters.
AI can provide answers that may sound correct, but they may in fact be entirely incorrect. We are all familiar with the well-publicized case from New York State where the attorney admitted to utilizing AI to write a brief. The Court quickly realized that not only were the statements of law incorrect, but the cases cited were entirely made up. Utilizing entirely incorrect information in presenting your case to a Court, or even relying on entirely incorrect information in discussing your options with a spouse or with an attorney, can be extremely costly in any number of ways.
One should even avoid utilizing AI to help interpret legal documents or answer procedural or any other legal questions because more often than not, AI will not be providing answers that any one person should rely on. You should only rely on an experienced divorce attorney who can gather all of the facts and circumstances they first need before they can provide you with a complete and accurate understanding of the law, your options, help you assess the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches, provide strategic planning, clearly advise you of critical deadlines, and make recommendations to you based on their experience. The decisions made in a divorce or separation situation are critical to your future and that of your family.
- AI and ChatGPT are not private or secure
Equally important is the fact that AI (including ChatGPT) is not private or confidential. In asking questions to AI and/or having AI review documents from your divorce or separation, you could be sharing your personal information with the world wide web. In contrast, what you say to your attorney and the records you provide to your attorney all remain private and confidential unless you decide to use them in your case.
- We have tested this ourselves
We have asked AI for legal information, and when we got false results, we accused AI of false information. The AI answer confirmed that the information was made up. Bad legal advice from AI, just like bad legal advice from a friend or family member, or stranger or social media, can be extremely costly, unnecessarily so. AI is not bound by any rules or regulations and simply cannot be relied on. Relying on AI could cost you significantly- both financially and otherwise and certainly could cost of you much more than if you simply speak with your own experienced attorney. The safest and most effective option is to consult directly with a qualified attorney who can provide advice tailored to your specific facts and jurisdiction.
AI is simply not a safe or reliable tool for any legal advice of any kind.
