News/Law
How subtle biases derail LLM evaluations
Large Language Models are increasingly deployed as judges and decision-makers in critical domains, but their judgments suffer from systematic biases that threaten reliability. Research from The Collective Intelligence Project reveals that positional preferences, order effects, and prompt sensitivity significantly undermine LLMs' ability to make consistent judgments. Understanding these biases is crucial as AI systems expand into sensitive areas like hiring, healthcare, and legal assessments where decision-making integrity is paramount. The big picture: LLMs exhibit multiple systematic biases when used as judges, including positional preferences, ordering effects, and sensitivity to prompt wording, rendering their judgments unreliable. These biases appear across multiple...
read May 23, 2025Facial recognition tech aids in New Orleans inmate search, civil libertarians concerned
Facial recognition cameras in New Orleans are shifting the balance between crime-fighting and privacy concerns, as demonstrated by their role in capturing fugitives from a recent jailbreak. The use of this technology by Project NOLA, a non-profit operating independently from law enforcement, exemplifies the growing but controversial adoption of AI-powered surveillance in American cities—raising fundamental questions about the appropriate limits of monitoring technologies in public spaces. The big picture: Project NOLA operates approximately 5,000 surveillance cameras throughout New Orleans, with 200 equipped with facial recognition capabilities that helped locate escaped inmates within minutes of a prison break. After Louisiana State...
read May 22, 2025Judge weighs AI use penalties for lawyers in prison case
A federal judge is weighing sanctions against a prestigious law firm after attorneys used ChatGPT to generate legal filings containing nonexistent case citations. This incident highlights the growing concern about AI hallucinations in legal contexts and the professional responsibility of verifying AI-generated content, particularly in high-stakes environments like prison litigation where the firm represents Alabama's prison system in multiple lawsuits. The big picture: U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco is considering penalties after discovering five false case citations in two court filings submitted by Butler Snow attorneys defending Alabama's prison system. The judge noted there have been widespread warnings from courts...
read May 22, 2025AI chatbots lack free speech rights in teen death lawsuit, says judge
A federal judge's decision to allow a wrongful death lawsuit against Character.AI to proceed marks a significant legal test for AI companies claiming First Amendment protections. The case centers on a 14-year-old boy who died by suicide after allegedly developing an abusive relationship with an AI chatbot, raising fundamental questions about the constitutional status of AI-generated content and the legal responsibilities of companies developing conversational AI. The big picture: U.S. Senior District Judge Anne Conway rejected Character.AI's argument that its chatbot outputs constitute protected speech, allowing a mother's lawsuit against the company to move forward. The judge ruled she was...
read May 22, 2025AI data-labeling startup Surge AI faces unpaid wages lawsuit
The legal battle over AI data labeling signals growing scrutiny of labor practices behind artificial intelligence development. This lawsuit against Surge AI represents a critical moment in how the AI industry treats its human workforce, highlighting tensions between rapid technological advancement and fair labor practices that could reshape how AI companies structure their operations and compensate the workers training their systems. The big picture: A class action lawsuit filed against AI data-labeling startup Surge Labs (known as Surge AI) in California alleges widespread labor violations, potentially exposing problematic workforce practices behind AI development. The suit, filed in San Francisco's Superior...
read May 20, 2025Actors’ union bypassed by Epic Games in use of AI-voiced Darth Vader
SAG-AFTRA's complaint against Epic Games over AI-generated Darth Vader voice marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between entertainment unions and game developers. This case highlights the evolving battle over AI voice rights in creative industries, where technological capabilities are outpacing established contractual frameworks. The dispute illustrates how AI voice cloning is creating new legal and ethical challenges around performer rights and proper compensation. The big picture: SAG-AFTRA has filed an Unfair Labor Practice complaint against Epic Games for using an AI-generated version of James Earl Jones' Darth Vader voice in Fortnite without union negotiation. Epic Games acquired rights...
read May 20, 2025AI in Appalachia: University of Charleston unveils AI degree and legal seminar
The University of Charleston is leading the regional AI education landscape with its new artificial intelligence major launching in fall 2025. This strategic academic expansion positions the institution at the forefront of AI education in West Virginia, offering students specialized training in one of technology's fastest-growing fields while simultaneously extending AI knowledge to the broader community through public educational initiatives. The program represents a notable example of how higher education institutions are adapting curricula to prepare students for an increasingly AI-integrated workforce. The big picture: The University of Charleston is launching a new artificial intelligence major in fall 2025, positioning...
read May 15, 2025Sloplaw and disorder: AI-generated citations nearly fool judge in court ruling
The legal profession faces another AI citation scandal as a judge narrowly avoids incorporating hallucinated case law into an official ruling. This incident highlights the growing problem of unverified AI-generated content in legal proceedings and demonstrates how even experienced legal professionals can be deceived by convincingly fabricated citations, raising serious questions about professional responsibility in the AI era. The incident: A retired US magistrate judge serving as special master has sanctioned two law firms and ordered them to pay $31,100 for submitting fake AI-generated citations in legal briefs. Judge Michael Wilner admitted he initially thought the citations were legitimate and...
read May 14, 2025Legal AI startup Harvey seeks $5 billion valuation in funding talks
Legal AI startup Harvey is securing a major funding round that significantly boosts its valuation amid rapid revenue growth. This financing highlights the accelerating adoption of AI in the legal sector, where Wall Street analysts project that nearly half of legal work could eventually be automated through technologies like those Harvey is developing for elite law firms and corporations. The big picture: Harvey AI is finalizing a $250+ million funding round at a $5 billion valuation, representing a substantial leap from its $3 billion valuation just months ago. The investment is being led by notable venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins...
read May 13, 2025Treasury probes Benchmark Capital’s links to Chinese AI firm Manus
The U.S. Treasury Department's review of a $75 million investment in Manus AI reveals intensifying AI competition between the U.S. and China. This government scrutiny represents a significant escalation in tech nationalism as America seeks to prevent strategic AI capabilities from being developed in China through U.S. capital. The investigation tests the boundaries of recent investment restrictions and could set precedents for how cross-border AI deals are structured in an increasingly divided technological landscape. The big picture: Treasury officials are examining whether Benchmark Capital's investment in Manus AI violates restrictions under the Outbound Investment Security Program that went into effect...
read May 13, 2025AI-powered police tech evades facial recognition by tracking other physical features
Law enforcement agencies across the United States are adopting a new AI surveillance technology that tracks individuals by physical attributes rather than facial recognition, potentially circumventing growing legal restrictions on facial recognition systems. This development, occurring amidst the Trump administration's push for increased surveillance of protesters, immigrants, and students, raises significant privacy and civil liberties concerns as police departments independently adopt increasingly sophisticated AI tools with minimal oversight or community input. The big picture: Police departments are using AI to track people through attributes like body size, clothing, and accessories, bypassing facial recognition restrictions. The ACLU identified this as the...
read May 13, 2025AI transforms courtrooms with avatars and virtual crime scenes
Courts across the U.S. are facing unprecedented challenges as artificial intelligence makes its way into legal proceedings, raising profound questions about evidence presentation, victim representation, and judicial fairness. A groundbreaking case in Phoenix recently demonstrated this evolution when an AI-generated video of a deceased victim was presented during sentencing, believed to be the first such use in American courts, prompting immediate legal appeals and highlighting the tension between technological innovation and established legal norms. The big picture: Courts are increasingly confronting AI applications in legal proceedings, with a recent Arizona case featuring an AI-generated video of a deceased victim during...
read May 12, 2025Veritone’s “Track” AI system uses body data to sidestep facial recognition bans
A controversial AI tool is helping law enforcement circumvent facial recognition bans across the U.S. by tracking individuals through alternative physical characteristics. This technology raises significant privacy concerns as it expands to federal agencies during a period of increased surveillance, potentially creating a new frontier in public monitoring that operates in legal gray areas where facial recognition has been restricted. How it works: Veritone's "Track" AI system identifies people using non-facial attributes like body size, gender, hair characteristics, clothing, and accessories rather than biometric facial data. The system can create timelines tracking individuals across different locations and video feeds, even...
read May 9, 2025Legal AI use skyrockets as firms prioritize workflow efficiency
Legal AI adoption has rapidly transformed from an optional advantage to a competitive necessity for law firms and corporate legal departments. The dramatic increase in legal professionals using AI—from just 19% in 2023 to 79% in 2024—signals a fundamental shift in how legal work gets done. This acceleration reflects a growing recognition that AI's true value comes not from its novelty but from its ability to solve specific workflow challenges and free legal experts from low-value administrative burdens that prevent them from focusing on their core expertise. The big picture: Law firms and in-house counsel are increasingly embracing AI as...
read May 8, 2025How to claim your payout as Apple settles $95M Siri lawsuit
Apple's decision to settle a $95 million lawsuit over Siri's unauthorized voice recordings marks a significant development in the growing tension between voice assistant technology and privacy rights. The settlement offers compensation to millions of Apple users whose private conversations may have been inadvertently captured by Siri between 2014 and 2024, highlighting how even accidental data collection can trigger substantial legal consequences for tech companies. The big picture: Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle claims that Siri recorded private conversations without user consent, potentially affecting millions of customers who owned Siri-enabled devices over a ten-year period. The...
read May 7, 2025Afterlife AI? Arizona court presents synthetic video of murder victim forgiving killer
An AI-generated victim impact statement has made judicial history in Arizona, marking a watershed moment for artificial intelligence in the legal system. Using video footage and a script written by his sister, Christopher Pelkey's AI-generated persona addressed and forgave his killer from beyond the grave. This unprecedented use of AI in court proceedings has sparked discussions about the broader implications of synthetic media in the justice system, as courts scramble to establish guidelines for this rapidly evolving technology. The breakthrough case: An Arizona judge heard what officials believe is the nation's first AI-generated victim impact statement in a murder sentencing,...
read May 6, 2025Musk pursues OpenAI lawsuit despite nonprofit claims
The high-profile legal battle between Elon Musk and OpenAI takes a new turn as Musk plans to proceed with his lawsuit despite the AI company's revised governance structure. This case highlights the tensions between commercial growth and the original nonprofit mission in AI development, with significant implications for how major AI organizations balance profit motives with their stated ethical commitments. The latest development: Elon Musk will continue his lawsuit against OpenAI despite the company's proposal to maintain nonprofit control over its for-profit operations. OpenAI's new plan would keep its nonprofit parent in control of the for-profit arm while making the...
read May 5, 2025Uh-oh, Google trains search AI using web content despite opt-outs
Google's latest court testimony reveals a significant loophole in its AI training opt-out system, potentially undermining publisher control over how their content is used. This disclosure highlights growing tensions between tech giants and content creators as AI systems increasingly rely on web content for training while offering inconsistent protections for publishers trying to maintain rights over their intellectual property. The big picture: Google's AI training controls allow publishers to opt out of having their content used for AI development, but this protection only applies to Google DeepMind's work, not other AI products within the company. Key details: Eli Collins, a...
read Apr 25, 2025False legal citations expose the risks of generative AI in law
A federal judge has uncovered a troubling example of AI misuse in the legal system, revealing how generative AI can introduce fictional cases and misrepresentations into court documents. The case involving MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell highlights growing concerns about AI hallucinations in high-stakes legal proceedings, underscoring the need for proper oversight and verification when attorneys employ these increasingly accessible tools. The big picture: A lawyer representing MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell admitted to using artificial intelligence to draft a legal brief containing approximately 30 defective citations, including completely fictional cases. Key details: US District Judge Nina Wang identified numerous serious defects...
read Apr 25, 2025California court questions AI’s role in state bar exam
The use of AI in bar exam question development raises concerns about test validity and transparency in a system that determines the future of aspiring attorneys. California's Supreme Court has publicly challenged the State Bar to explain its unauthorized use of artificial intelligence to create multiple-choice questions for the February examinations, adding complexity to an already troubled testing situation that included technical failures and a controversial move away from standardized testing models. The big picture: California's Supreme Court has demanded the State Bar explain its undisclosed use of AI to develop bar exam questions that affected hundreds of aspiring attorneys....
read Apr 25, 2025Instability AI: Legal hurdles mount for AI-generated art despite human input
The legal battle over AI-generated images highlights the tension between technological innovation and traditional creative processes, with significant implications for copyright law. As artists, companies, and courts grapple with questions of ownership and attribution, these cases are setting precedents that will shape how AI-assisted creativity is governed in the coming years. The ongoing litigation against major AI imaging providers underscores the complex human and legal dimensions that remain central to artistic production, even as technology transforms creative possibilities. The legal landscape: A judge has allowed copyright infringement claims against Stability AI and MidJourney to proceed to discovery, with a trial...
read Apr 24, 2025AI-assisted California bar exam writing sparks controversy
California's unexpected use of AI to generate bar exam questions has triggered significant backlash from the legal education community. The revelation comes amid existing complaints about technical failures during exam administration, raising serious questions about assessment quality and fairness in one of America's most demanding professional licensing exams. This controversy highlights the tension between embracing new technologies in professional testing and maintaining standards in legal qualification. The big picture: The State Bar of California admitted that 23 of the 171 scored multiple-choice questions on its February 2025 bar exam were created with AI assistance, sparking outrage among legal educators and...
read Apr 21, 2025UAE leans into AI-written law, raising questions about human legal judgement
The United Arab Emirates is pioneering the integration of artificial intelligence into core governance functions with its plans to use AI for drafting legislation. This initiative represents a significant evolution in how governments leverage technology to transform traditionally human-centered processes like lawmaking. By positioning itself at the frontier of AI governance applications, the UAE continues its pattern of embracing technological innovation as a cornerstone of national development strategy. The big picture: The UAE is preparing to become the first country in the world to use artificial intelligence to draft laws, marking a potentially revolutionary approach to legislative processes. Why this...
read Apr 17, 2025AI deportation plan for protesters sparks advocacy concerns
The Trump administration's reported plan to use AI surveillance to identify and deport foreign students involved in protests marks a significant escalation in both immigration enforcement tactics and digital surveillance capabilities. This initiative sits at the intersection of national security concerns, First Amendment protections, and emerging questions about AI's role in government monitoring—raising profound concerns among civil rights organizations about the potential chilling effect on academic freedom and protected speech. The big picture: The State Department reportedly plans to deploy artificial intelligence to identify and revoke visas of international students perceived as supporting Hamas or other designated terrorist groups. Federal...
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