Man Employs A.I. Avatar in Legal Appeal, and Judge Isn’t Amused
The use of a video persona created with artificial intelligence software to help make an argument earns a stern rebuke.
The use of a video persona created with artificial intelligence software to help make an argument earns a stern rebuke.
Jerome Dewald sat with his legs crossed and his hands folded in his lap in front of an appellate panel of New York State judges, ready to argue for a reversal of a lower court’s decision in his dispute with a former employer.
The court had allowed Mr. Dewald, who is not a lawyer and was representing himself, to accompany his argument with a prerecorded video presentation.
As the video began to play, it showed a man seemingly younger than Mr. Dewald’s 74 years wearing a blue collared shirt and a beige sweater and standing in front of what appeared to be a blurred virtual background.
A few seconds into the video, one of the judges, confused by the image on the screen, asked Mr. Dewald if the man was his lawyer.
“I generated that,” Mr. Dewald responded. “That is not a real person.”
The judge, Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels of the Appellate Division’s First Judicial Department, paused for a moment. It was clear she was displeased with his answer.
“It would have been nice to know that when you made your application,” she snapped at him.
“I don’t appreciate being misled,” she added before yelling for someone to turn off the video.
