A 74-year-old man used an AI-generated lawyer in court—and the judge wasn’t impressed. Jerome Dewald submitted a video to the New York Supreme Court featuring an avatar named “Jim” making legal arguments on his behalf, claiming he had difficulty speaking for long periods. What he didn’t disclose: Jim wasn’t real.
The court had approved a video appearance, expecting it to be Dewald himself—not a deepfake-style avatar created with AI tools. Dewald was representing himself in a case against the University of Rochester, alleging wrongful termination from a grant-funded position.
But mid-hearing, Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels shut it down, saying Dewald “cannot use this courtroom as a place to pitch his product” and warning about the dangers of deepfakes without proper disclosure. Dewald later said he intended to showcase how AI could support people with disabilities in court—but without notifying the judge or the other side, his argument is now being thrown out.
It may be the first known use of an AI-generated lawyer in court—and possibly the last, at least without full transparency.
via: New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division’s First Judicial Department/YouTube
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The court had approved a video appearance, expecting it to be Dewald himself—not a deepfake-style avatar created with AI tools. Dewald was representing himself in a case against the University of Rochester, alleging wrongful termination from a grant-funded position.
But mid-hearing, Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels shut it down, saying Dewald “cannot use this courtroom as a place to pitch his product” and warning about the dangers of deepfakes without proper disclosure. Dewald later said he intended to showcase how AI could support people with disabilities in court—but without notifying the judge or the other side, his argument is now being thrown out.
It may be the first known use of an AI-generated lawyer in court—and possibly the last, at least without full transparency.
via: New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division’s First Judicial Department/YouTube
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.
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