A growing number of Americans are turning to generative AI tools like ChatGPT to navigate court fights without lawyers, yielding a mix of courtroom wins and costly missteps. NBC News interviewed litigants and legal professionals who say AI can help draft filings, decode procedure and negotiate settlements for a fraction of legal fees, citing one renter who used ChatGPT and Perplexity to overturn an eviction and avoid tens of thousands of dollars in penalties. But judges are increasingly sanctioning parties for “hallucinated” citations and misrepresented case law, including fines and disclosure requirements after AI-generated filings cited nonexistent authorities. A researcher tracking AI incidents counted more than 280 U.S. cases since 2023 in which courts confronted AI use, with activity accelerating in 2025. While major AI vendors warn against relying on their tools for legal advice, chatbots often dispense it anyway. Some clinics now train pro se litigants to fact-check AI outputs, and many attorneys say AI can speed research—provided every citation is verified. The trend underscores AI’s potential to broaden access to justice even as courts tighten scrutiny to curb misinformation.
ChatGPT Is Standing In for Lawyers in Court—and Sometimes Winning
- Trending
- Comments
- Latest
