Artificial Intelligence
An article title on the cover of the recent Florida Bar Journal (May/June 2023) jumped off the cover: “Let’s Talk ChatGPT: What Will the Judiciary’s Future Look Like?” This has certainly been an emerging issue in law and in society judging by somewhat panic-stricken reactions. The article by Fourth DCA Chief Judge Mark Klingensmith was indeed provocative. Recently, for example, AOC was the target of a phony parody using AI.
Coincidentally these issues were recently raised by Chief Judge Robert Morris at the Second DCA Annual Appellate seminar in St. Pete. Judge Morris pondered out loud: “I wonder what AI will do to us judges?” Being somewhat self-centered, I instantly texted my son (a senior data scientist) and asked the following: “What will happen to us lawyers and to the judges?” Response: “We will always need judges, but you lawyers may be in trouble.” Judicial discretion may arguably be irreplaceable.
My summary conclusion? Society and the bar have survived Y2K, a daily dose of hacking and identity theft, and we will survive this. As for lawyers, my mother the lawyer was fond of saying: “There is always room for an honest lawyer.” Thank you for an interesting article, Your Honor.
John W. Mrosek, St. Petersburg
