AI avatar sparks controversy in New York courtroom

A New York appeals court faced an unusual legal twist on March 26 when Jerome Dewald, representing himself in an employment dispute, used an AI-generated avatar to present his case.

The virtual figure, designed to deliver arguments more clearly than Dewald believed he could, was met with sharp criticism from the judges.

Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels interrupted the video presentation within seconds, asking whether the avatar was legal counsel for the case.

“I generated that. That’s not a real person,” Dewald admitted.

“I don’t appreciate being misled,” the judge stated, expressing frustration and ordering the video to be shut off.  

She further criticised Dewald for failing to disclose his use of AI in advance and warned against using the courtroom as a platform for business ventures.

Dewald later apologised, explaining his intent was to compensate for his nervousness and verbal stumbling during previous hearings.

He had collaborated with a San Francisco tech company to create the avatar but was unable to generate a replica resembling himself due to technical constraints.

“The court was really upset about it. They chewed me up pretty good,” Dewald acknowledged.

This incident highlights the growing presence of artificial intelligence in legal settings and its associated challenges.

While AI tools have been adopted in some courts, such as Arizona’s use of avatars to summarise rulings, their integration raises ethical concerns.

Daniel Shin of William & Mary Law School remarked that such occurrences are inevitable as individuals experiment with AI in self-representation.

However, he emphasised that lawyers are unlikely to use similar methods due to strict court rules and professional risks.

The controversy also recalls past misuse of AI in legal proceedings, such as a 2023 case where attorneys cited fictitious precedents generated by ChatGPT, resulting in fines.

Critics argue that while AI offers potential benefits for efficiency and clarity, its application must adhere to transparency and legal standards.