Michael Cohen Admits to Using AI for Fabricated Legal Citations
Former attorney and fixer for Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, has confessed to unknowingly utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to create fake legal citations in a court filing. This revelation comes amidst Cohen’s ongoing legal troubles and his potential role as a witness against Trump in various legal proceedings.
Inadvertent Submission of AI-Generated Citations
Cohen recently revealed that he accidentally included fictitious AI-generated legal citations in a motion submitted to a federal judge. These citations were produced by Google Bard, an AI chatbot. Cohen, who is currently under supervised release after serving time in prison, mistakenly believed Google Bard to be a powerful search engine and was unaware of its capability to generate non-existent legal cases.
Failure to Verify Citations
This mistake was compounded by Cohen’s lawyer, David Schwartz, failing to verify the citations. Schwartz assumed another attorney had researched the cases and did not realize they were fictional. He took responsibility for the oversight and apologized for not personally checking the cases before presenting them to the court. This incident raises concerns about due diligence practices in legal research and reliance on AI tools.
Potential Impact on Cohen’s Credibility
While Cohen’s use of AI-generated citations was unintentional, it could potentially affect his credibility as a witness in ongoing legal cases involving Trump. Cohen has already testified against Trump in a New York civil case and is a crucial witness in an upcoming criminal case. This incident highlights the risks associated with emerging legal technologies and emphasizes the need for legal professionals to stay informed about these trends.
The Integration of AI in Legal Research
This incident involving Cohen and Google Bard sheds light on the growing integration of AI in legal research. While AI tools can enhance research efficiency, they also pose risks, such as generating inaccurate or fictitious information. This situation underscores the importance of understanding the capabilities and limitations of AI in legal contexts. Lawyers and legal professionals must exercise caution and thoroughly verify AI-generated content.
Hot Take: The Importance of Diligence in AI-Assisted Legal Research
The case of Michael Cohen’s inadvertent use of AI-generated citations serves as a reminder of the critical role diligence plays in AI-assisted legal research. As technologies like AI become more prevalent in the legal field, it is crucial for legal professionals to be aware of their limitations and potential pitfalls. Verification and thorough examination of AI-generated content are essential to maintain credibility and ensure accurate legal representation. While AI can undoubtedly enhance research efficiency, it should be used with caution and careful oversight to avoid misleading or fabricated information.
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