There are moments in the quiet rhythm of the courtroom when the familiar cadence of law feels almost like music, each precedent a note echoing through the halls. Yet what happens when a note is imagined rather than played? When a citation that seems to sing with authority turns out to be a mere whisper of something that never existed?
In Concepción, Chile, this delicate balance between imagination and reality was brought into focus. Franklin Bustos Díaz, a lawyer representing Inmobiliaria General Cruz SpA, filed a damages lawsuit including citations of jurisprudence that, upon scrutiny, were found not to exist. The court, guided by principles of professional ethics and procedural good faith, responded with a sanction: a fine of 1 Unidad Tributaria Mensual, about 69,611 Chilean pesos.
Bustos Díaz acknowledged that the brief had been drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and emphasized that there was no intent to deceive the court. Nevertheless, he accepted responsibility for not verifying the work before submission, underscoring the tension between technological convenience and human accountability.
This case mirrors a growing global conversation about AI in law. Courts worldwide have faced similar instances where AI-generated content introduced fabricated citations. Such situations are not mere clerical errors but cautionary moments that highlight the fragile trust at the heart of legal proceedings.
The Concepción episode is a gentle reminder that while AI can assist and accelerate tasks, the human mind must remain the arbiter of truth and accuracy. Technology may sketch possibilities, but the responsibility to verify, reflect, and ensure integrity rests squarely on professionals. In law, where certainty is vital, even an inadvertent misstep can ripple beyond the pages of a brief.
For legal practitioners and observers, the message is subtle but firm: innovation must be tempered with discipline, and curiosity must be paired with diligence. AI may offer new vistas, but it cannot replace the careful stewardship that the practice of law demands.
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Sources : BioBioChile The Guardian Reuters Clarín Canal 9