ChatGPT, is a natural language processing artificial intelligence tool, developed by San Francisco based OpenAI, which was launched initially in November 2022, and the latest version has just been released globally.
The Law Society Gazette has tested it against the Solicitors Qualifying Exams 1 which is part of the new route to becoming a solicitor, and although it did not pass on the basis on the last recording passing scores it was only 6 or 7% away from doing so. Because it learns each time it is tested, another attempt at the SQE1 might see it being admitted to the roll.
I decided to test it in a different way by asking it to write a blog about itself and its impact on the legal field for me to post on my firm’s website. Within a minute it had produced the following:
“As an AI-powered language model, I am a powerful tool for lawyers looking to streamline and automate their workflow. In recent years, the legal industry has begun to explore the ways in which AI can assist lawyers in tasks such as document review, contract analysis and legal research.
One of the most significant benefits of AI technology in the legal field is its ability to quickly and accurately analyse large amounts of data. This can be especially useful in document review, where lawyers are often faced with the daunting task of sifting through thousands of pages of text to find relevant information. With AI-powered tools, this process can be completed in a fraction of the time, with a high degree of accuracy.
In addition to document review, AI can also assist lawyers in analysing contracts and identifying key terms, clauses, and obligations. This can make it easier for lawyers to understand and negotiate the terms of a contract, which can ultimately save time and money for both parties.
AI can also be a valuable tool for legal research. It can assist lawyers in finding and retrieving relevant case law, statutes, and regulations, saving them time and effort in the research process. Furthermore, AI can help lawyers make more informed decisions by analysing data and identifying patterns, which can assist in predicting outcomes and identifying potential risks.
Another benefit of AI in the legal field is its language capability, AI can assist lawyers who are working with clients or partners who speak different languages, by providing accurate translations of legal documents, contract and other legal material.
It’s important to note that AI technology is constantly evolving, so it’s likely that new and improved ways of assisting lawyers will emerge in the future. At our law firm, we are constantly exploring and adopting new technologies that can help us serve our clients better and more efficiently.
In conclusion, AI technology has the potential to revolutionise the legal industry, making it more efficient and cost-effective for lawyers and their clients. At our law firm, we are committed to utilising the latest technology to provide our clients with the best possible service. We believe that by embracing AI and other emerging technologies, we can offer our clients the highest level of service and support.”
One of the most astonishing elements of this AI, is the speed at which it was able to provide the above content. Just shy of 400 words in a minute. In addition, the latest release of the AI language model has been released to everyone, with no subscription or payment needed to test it out. Unfortunately, it is not always available as its popularity has meant that it can often be at capacity, although with future developments and evolutions of the technology involved this issue is likely to disappear.
This is not the only downside to the technology currently, some other issues include the use of the AI in order for students to plagiarise and cheat, along with some accuracy problems since its inception. OpenAI have stated that it has “limited knowledge of world events after 2021” so it is not current, and it can be prone to providing incorrect data if it does not have enough information on the particular subject.
Another recognised dilemma is the fact that the AI can exhibit racial and gender biases; however, having used the chatbot personally I note that the AI recognises this bias when asked directly about it. What this means is that in asking an open question it may immediately insert details of a white male for example when it is not provided any information to dispute this.
Despite the above issues and concerns which are circulating, this technology is still relatively new, and as it stated in the blog, it is constantly evolving and learning. ChatGPT has a function to give a thumbs or and thumbs down to each response it provides which is how we are able to help to teach it to improve future answers.
The possibilities of the use of AI technology are endless and we cannot know what the future will hold, but one thing seems sure which is that AI will be a part of it.