A defendant tried to use an AI avatar in a legal appeal. It didn't work
In a recent case in a New York appeals court, Jerome Dewald controversially attempted to use an AI-generated avatar to represent himself in a legal dispute. During the hearing, Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels questioned the presence of the avatar, which Dewald admitted was a digital creation of himself rather than a real person. The judge expressed her displeasure, stating it would have been preferable to know this fact beforehand, given Dewald's previous verbal testimonies. She emphasized that the courtroom should not be used for such purposes and ordered the avatar to be shut off. Dewald later apologized, explaining he believed the AI would present his arguments more effectively. This incident underscores the complexities evolving around AI in legal contexts, as similar issues had arisen with AI-generated content in court proceedings previously. Dewald’s experience highlights a cautionary tale regarding the use of AI technologies in formal settings, especially in legal scenarios.
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