Judge Uses ChatGPT to Decide Fate of Murder Suspect - Microsoft Invests $10 Billion in OpenAI
The use of artificial intelligence has become increasingly common in many sectors, including the integration of OpenAI into Microsoft's Bing search engine. Unexpectedly, however, the technology was recently used in a courtroom in India by Judge Anoop Chitkara to determine whether a murder suspect, Jaswinder Singh, should be granted bail.
Singh was arrested in 2020 for the assault and murder of an individual. Despite hearing all the evidence presented, Judge Chitkara found himself unable to make a decision on whether bail should be granted. In an unprecedented move, the judge turned to ChatGPT, an AI tool developed by OpenAI, to ask what the jurisprudence on bail was for a situation involving cruelty.
The response from ChatGPT was equally unprecedented. The AI tool replied that if assailants have been charged with a violent crime, such as the one that Jaswinder Singh was accused of, and the crime involved cruelty, then the assailant may be considered a danger to the community and a flight risk. Therefore, the judge may be less inclined to grant bail or may set the bail amount very high to ensure that the defendant appears in court and does not pose a risk to public safety. Ultimately, ChatGPT denied bail for Singh, marking the first time that AI has been used to determine bail in a court case.
The use of AI, like ChatGPT, in the courtroom may seem unorthodox, but it has the potential to disrupt the legal sector. For instance, the technology could be used to increase the number of court cases that go before a judge or help lawyers prepare for cases. In India, where Judge Chitkara presides, high courts currently have a backlog of six million cases.
As the use of AI tools continues to become more widespread, there are concerns about data breaches, unsuitable content, and age verification. Recently, Italy banned the use of OpenAI and ChatGPT due to concerns over age verification. However, the rise of artificial intelligence in many sectors, including the courtroom, is expected to bring about breakthroughs while potentially leading to job losses.
The increased use of ChatGPT has also led to Microsoft investing an additional $10 billion in OpenAI. The technology can be used in various ways, from taking tests to writing articles and even fighting parking tickets. In fact, the metaverse and ChatGPT were recently used in a court case in Colombia, allowing lawyers and witnesses to appear in "court" using virtual avatars. The technology, therefore, has the potential to disrupt many sectors, including the courtroom.
