AI Raises the Bar

Stanford University Junior Joshua Browder's AI Legal chatbot DoNotPay has purportedly helped defeat 375,000 parking tickets over the last two years and is now available nationwide, according to The Verge. TechCrunch reports that IBM's Watson technology has been offered to DoNotPay for free to enable users to express questions using natural language.

Should attorneys worry that AI will replace them? Not according to the ABA's Litigation News. Indeed, although large firms are retaining various AI systems for tasks such as due diligence, lease abstraction, and contract analysis, at least one firm characterizes those systems as supplemental tools to help attorneys produce results faster, learn more quickly, and improve - not to replace them.

Which raises the question - is the potential to generate more legal work truly limitless?

At least from an output perspective, DoNotPay would seem to suggest it might be. Below is a hastily-generated sample. Interestingly, the program doesn't yet appear to provide instructions for how to proceed when all those camera maintenance records arrive.

To Whom it May Concern,

I received a letter claiming I committed a moving traffic violation in lawrence kansas on 7/13/2017.

As per the instructions, I am writing to plead 'not guilty' to this charge. Although this option is said to result in this matter going to court; it is my suggestion that the charges simply be dropped. This suggestion comes out of respect for tax payers, and my request that their hard earned money not be wasted in such proceedings.

As there is no evidence of my involvement with this alleged 'crime', as well as the fact that I am not granted my 6th amendment right to face my 'accuser' (a camera); I see no way the government could prove my guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. I also see find no legal requirement for me to implicate someone else in this process, as it is the government's responsibility to prove a person's guilt. It is also my 5th amendment right to remain silent on the matter. 

If it is the government's decision to move forward in this matter, I would request copies of any evidence the prosecution may have of my involvement in the 'offense'; as well as, all maintenance records for the camera(s) involved. 

Sincerely, 

Test Case