ChatGPT and Bard have taken the internet by storm and have been the subject of considerable discussions and publications. It is not hard to understand why. These powerful platforms which generate human-like responses to text inputs have many individuals alarmed about utilisation and the encroachment on the functions or roles certain people perform, as well as entire roles generally. Many lawyers have considered the likely impact of these platforms and artificial intelligence applications on their roles.
Whilst these tools can impact the utilisation of lawyers whilst also presenting opportunities for lawyers, it is unlikely for these types of tools to replace legal practitioners entirely. There are several reasons why this is so.
Firstly, legal practitioners possess a range of skills and expertise that go beyond natural language generation. Lawyers must have a deep understanding of the law and legal principles, and the ability to apply this knowledge to complex cases and situations. This requires critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning, skills that are not currently within the scope of these AI tools.
The legal profession is heavily regulated, and there are strict ethical and professional standards to be adhered to. Whilst AI tools can be programmed to follow certain rules and guidelines, they do not have the capability for moral reasoning or ethical judgment. This means that they are unable to provide the same level of accountability and responsibility as a human lawyer.
Additionally, the legal profession involves a great deal of interpersonal interaction and communication, which requires empathy, emotional intelligence, and social skills. Often times it is these skills that enable a lawyer to strike at the core of an issue and truly understand the impetus and needs of a client. While AI tools can generate language that is designed to simulate human conversation, it is not capable of truly understanding the needs, emotions and perspectives of the people involved in a legal matter.
While these AI tools are incredible and have been hailed as game-changers in the publishing industry and other fields such as customer service and content creation, at this point in time they are unlikely to replace or take over the legal profession due to their limitations in providing accountability, responsibility, and interpersonal interaction.
If you are facing a legal issue and require sound, considered and ethical legal advice, please feel welcome to contact an actual human lawyer at BlackBay Lawyers.
