ChatGPT and GPT-4 AI: Uncovering Logical and Reasoning Capabilities and Practical Tips for Business Integration - Tatsoft LLCA short update on artificial intelligence as it relates to lawyers right now.  Chat GPT can now identify relevant cases when asked questions about the law.

It can draft headers and opening passages to skeleton arguments (tell it to assume it is in the jurisdiction of England and Wales. Link here to try it, free). (Other uses: Ask it to draft your meal plans what temperature to keep your home, a wedding speech, a poem on any subject you like).

The most recent version, released in March, beat most applicants for the New York Bar, passing in the 90th percentile. It can’t yet analyse the ratio of a case with consistency, or think of creative legal arguments, but that development is anticipated in the next 1-5 years.

AI can generate art in response to a text description e.g. “a cartoon of a computer dressed as a barrister in a courtroom arguing with a judge about the weather” generates this image. Try it here (you have to £, but not much).

The AI architect at Google (Geoffrey Hinton) resigned last week so he can speak out more freely about his concerns (see this short video – an existential threat explained succinctly in 8 minutes).

Developers in the AI community at the frontlines also recently signed an open letter, calling for a pause in the pace of technological development. (But this is very complicated, because if we stop, the Chinese govt has vowed to keep going).

The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights also released a report this month, cautioning member states to regulate AI.

What to do about it? Given the pace of development, it is a good idea for lawyers to start thinking about:

  1. How we can use AI tools in our practices (e.g. some programs can be run over the top of chat GPT to analyse an e-bundle and find the salient facts/points – but there are potential confidentiality, copyright etc implications)
  2. What litigation AI is going to generate in the next 1-5 years; and
  3. The ethical, political, social ramifications of the change that is coming

For anyone interested, I recommend these Reith lectures as a good place to start: the social change on its way, the effects on the economy, human relationships, educating children and ultimately, computers with independent agency.

Zoe McCallum is a barrister at Matrix, practising media and public law.