No, ChatGPT is not a “super search engine”. For two hours this Thursday, June 8, Steven Schwartz was heard by a judge for the southern district of New York, reports the New York Times. The lawyer had to explain his use of the OpenAI chatbot as part of his legal investigation.
To defend his client, who was hit by a service cart during a plane trip, Steven Schwartz called ChatGPT. The objective was to find out if similar cases had already been tried in the past. Except the software told him about cases that never existed. Therefore, he is accused of not having verified the information provided by ChatGPT.
Implications for the entire legal profession
According to him, “I didn’t understand that ChatGPT could do business.” The lawyer also explains: “I heard about this new site, which I mistakenly assumed was a super search engine.”
Nearly 70 people attended Steven Schwartz’s hearing. Lawyers, law students, court officials and professors attend the scene on the benches. “This case has had repercussions for the entire legal profession,” courtroom columnist David Lat told The New York Times.
Because sanctions should be imposed against the lawyer. At least that’s what judge Kevin Castel is considering. The repercussions could affect not only Steven Schwartz, but also his associate Peter LoDuca, who has since recovered the case.
Although he didn’t do the research, Peter LoDuca didn’t read the (false) lawsuits filed by his colleague thanks to ChatGPT. He had admitted that he had not made sure that these files had ever existed.
Source: BFM TV
