Michael Cohen confesses to unintentionally submitting fraudulent, AI-generated case citations
OAN’s Michaelangelo Hernandez
5:15 PM – Friday, December 29, 2023
Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen was caught red handed and admitted to giving his lawyer AI generated legal citations he obtained by using Google Bard while filing to have his probation shortened.
In court filings unsealed on Friday, Cohen admitted to using the AI program after the court threatened to sanction his counsel, David Schwartz, upon finding out the cases referenced in his request files did not exist.
Cohen said he had not kept up with “emerging trends” and the risks that come with using AI software. He added that he trusted his lawyer to “vet” any suggestions he made prior to filing.
“As a non-lawyer, I have not kept up with emerging trends (and related risks) in legal technology and did not realize that Google Bard was a generative text service that, like Chat-GPT, could show citations and descriptions that looked real but actually were not,” Cohen said. “Instead, I understood it to be a super-charged search engine and had repeatedly used it in other contexts to (successfully) find accurate information online.”
This is not the first time that the disgraced ex-lawyer has had a run in with the law. In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to tax evasion for his alleged part in arranging payouts for Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal in order for them to keep their reported relationship with the former president a secret.
For his punishment, Cohen served a three-year prison sentence. He is currently in the middle of his three-year term of supervised release.
Cohen used to have a close relationship with his former client Donald Trump. However, their relationship soured when Cohen shifted positions, becoming a key witness in the Manhattan criminal trial that targeted the Republican president.
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What steps should legal professionals take to ensure the accuracy and integrity of information obtained through AI programs
Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen has once again found himself in legal trouble, this time for using AI-generated legal citations while filing to have his probation shortened. In court filings that were unsealed on Friday, Cohen admitted to using the AI program after the court discovered that the cases referenced in his request did not exist. The court had threatened to sanction his lawyer, David Schwartz, before Cohen confessed.
Cohen confessed that he had not kept up with the “emerging trends” in legal technology and was unaware of the risks associated with using AI software. He claimed that he trusted his lawyer to vet any suggestions he made before filing. Cohen stated, “As a non-lawyer, I have not kept up with emerging trends (and related risks) in legal technology and did not realize that Google Bard was a generative text service that, like Chat-GPT, could show citations and descriptions that looked real but actually were not. Instead, I understood it to be a super-charged search engine and had repeatedly used it in other contexts to find accurate information online.”
This is not the first time that Cohen has faced legal trouble. In 2018, he pleaded guilty to tax evasion related to arranging payouts for Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, two women who allegedly had relationships with former President Trump, in order to keep their affairs a secret. Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison and is currently serving a supervised release term.
Cohen and Trump used to have a close relationship, but it soured when Cohen turned against the former president and became a key witness in the Manhattan criminal trial targeting Trump. The recent revelation of Cohen’s use of AI-generated legal citations further tarnishes his reputation and raises questions about the ethics of using AI in legal proceedings.
As technology continues to advance, it is crucial for legal professionals to stay abreast of the potential risks and pitfalls associated with AI software. The reliance on AI-generated content in legal filings raises concerns about the accuracy and integrity of legal documents. It is essential for lawyers to exercise due diligence and thoroughly vet any information obtained through AI programs to ensure its reliability.
In conclusion, Michael Cohen’s admission of using AI-generated legal citations highlights the challenges and risks associated with the use of AI in the legal field. Legal professionals must remain vigilant and exercise caution when utilizing AI software to ensure the accuracy and integrity of their work.
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