How things have changed!

It is seven years ago almost to the day since we moved into our brand spanking new offices, complete with state of the art air conditioning and wifi!

One of my favourite acquisitions was our mugs, which bore the phrase “don’t confuse my law degree with your Google search”.

The air con and the wifi may still be top draw, but the logo on the mugs has faded somewhat, and not just because of the super cool high speed dishwasher we bought.

It’s because AI is the new Google, although the sentiment is the same. This week, I have TWICE had to tell two separate clients not to believe everything they read, and on both occasions when I asked them where they got their information from, the answer was ChatGBT.

In the long run, computers may do away with all of us, and our descendants may one day resemble the blobs of humanity seen in Wall-E – sitting on loungers eating and drinking themselves into oblivion. In the short term, however, there is even more work for solicitors to do, as we spend our time not only giving legal advice, but also explaining why their clients computer said “no” when I say “maybe”, or vice versa.

Whilst I’m obviously no computer expert, it doesn’t take a genius to realise that a machine is only as good as its programming and the information put on it. If it accesses defective information from, for example, the internet (e.g. Google!) then it’s going to reach the wrong conclusion. It’s also a question of interpretation – i.e. the information is only as good as the way in which the question was phrased, and the way in which you understand what the answer is. If all ChatGBT does is recite the relevant section of the relevant statute, you still need to understand what that means in practice – which is why you need me!

Ultimately, it’s up to you whether you come to a professional or a computer for your answers, but so far my experience has been that if you start with the computer, it’s going to end up costing you more to get someone like me to put things right. So for the moment, the cheaper option might still be to hire a professional!

Kleyman & Co Solicitors. The full service law firm. We’re no mugs!