Roberts' comments come as lower courts grapple with the implications of AI technology. Recently, a federal appeals court in New Orleans proposed rule changes to regulate the use of generative AI tools by lawyers. The proposed rules would require lawyers to certify that they did not rely on AI programs to draft briefs, or that any AI-generated text had been reviewed for accuracy by humans.
Key takeaways:
- U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts has urged caution and humility regarding the use of artificial intelligence in the legal field, calling it a mixed blessing.
- Roberts acknowledged that AI has the potential to increase access to justice, transform legal research, and help courts resolve cases more quickly and at lower costs, but also highlighted privacy concerns and the inability of AI to replace human discretion.
- Roberts' comments come at a time when lower courts are grappling with AI technology that can pass the bar exam but is also known for generating fake content, or "hallucinations."
- Last month, the 5th U.S. Circuit of Appeals proposed new rules that would require lawyers to certify that they either did not rely on AI programs to draft any briefs, or that text created by an AI system had been reviewed for accuracy by humans.