ChatGPT-using lawyer punished for citing fake testimony from made-up witnesses
A New Mexico lawyer was held in direct contempt of court and referred to a disciplinary board for submitting a legal brief containing 'false testimony from wholly fabricated witnesses' generated by ChatGPT. The lawyer admitted he failed to verify the AI's output and did not inform his client of these errors.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the critical ethical and professional challenges posed by the uncritical use of AI in professional fields, particularly law, underscoring the need for human oversight and verification to prevent misinformation and maintain integrity in legal proceedings.
“You buried your head in the sand” ChatGPT-using lawyer punished for citing fake testimony from made-up witnesses “I didn’t know that AI could hallucinate facts,” New Mexico defense lawyer says.
48 Credit: Getty Images | NurPhoto Credit: Getty Images | NurPhoto Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav The New Mexico Supreme Court held a ChatGPT-using lawyer in direct contempt of court for submitting a brief with “false testimony from wholly fabricated witnesses,” including fake police testimony and other mistakes. The state’s top court referred the lawyer to a disciplinary board for further proceedings and concluded that he “demonstrated a lack of remorse and a lack of concern for his client.”
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