Artificial intelligence (AI) is entering all our lives, in many ways. Your web browser and email server use AI. You can access free AI with websites such as Claude, Copilot, Gemini and Chat GPT. AI is a fantastic tool if it is used properly, and cautiously. Lawyers and other professionals use AI to help do their jobs more efficiently.
AI is also a good research tool, to help find answers to complicated questions, to plan trips and do so many things.
Even though AI “knows” a lot, and can find and synthesize a lot of information quickly, we need to take a step back and remember that it is only a robot. For instance, people know that they cannot rely on AI to diagnose an illness or treat them in place of a doctor. In the same way, AI is not a substitute for a trained, experienced attorney.
Based on my recent experiences, the clients who use AI to get background information about legal options such as the types of bankruptcy, the relief it provides, and general requirements are using AI in the most effective way. Good questions to ask AI, for example are: What is Chapter 7 Bankruptcy? What is Chapter 13 Bankruptcy and what information do I need to provide to the Court? Can I keep my house or car in bankruptcy?
But, if people rely on AI to communicate with their attorneys, they end up using AI to get legal advice on what the attorney should do in their case, at a court hearing, for instance.
To state the obvious, the AI did not graduate from law school or try cases before real live Judges or advise clients on their situations for a full legal career. Why does this matter? Because AI is only a robot, any advice it gives does not have the benefit of a real, live human attorney. Real, live attorneys can weigh their clients’ goals, what the opposing attorneys will present in their case, and ultimately, what they believe the Judge will do in their case.
When I receive emails that were obviously created using AI, I know that the client has not thought about what they need to ask, but rather, a robot is creating an email with what it thinks is needed.
I will not communicate with a client through a robot! I want to listen to your situation, discuss your options, and give you the best real, human legal advice possible.
Here are my words of wisdom: Communicate “human-to human”. AI research is great, but AI is not human and will not have judgment, wisdom, or experience like a human. It’s a great tool, but it’s only a tool. Use it wisely!
Daniel J. Winter
BankruptcyLawChicago.com
312-789-9999
