# The Future of Law: Chatbots, Inheritance, and the Role of AI
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Chapter 1: Chatbots and Their Role in Legal Matters
The concept of chatbots revolutionizing the legal profession has been a hot topic for discussion. Recently, the ChatGPT model faced challenges in interpreting Illinois probate law. For example, when queried about property inheritance in specific familial circumstances, the chatbot provided answers that were partially correct but missed critical legal nuances.
To illustrate, I posed a question regarding inheritance rights: "In Illinois, who inherits the property if an unmarried person dies without children, but has one living parent and two siblings, while another sibling passed away earlier, leaving behind one child?" The chatbot responded correctly that the surviving parent and siblings would inherit, excluding the child of the deceased sibling. However, it overlooked the provisions of Illinois law that state the child should have been included in the inheritance.
755 ILCS 5/2–1(d): If there is no surviving spouse or descendant but a parent, brother, sister, or descendant of a brother or sister of the decedent, the entire estate goes to the parents, brothers, and sisters of the decedent in equal parts, with the surviving parent receiving a double portion.
Next, I altered the scenario: "If a sibling died after the decedent, leaving one child, who inherits?" The chatbot again stated that the surviving parent and siblings would inherit, but this time it correctly acknowledged the child's share in the inheritance.
Despite these improvements, the chatbot's failure to consider whether a will existed raises concerns about its reliability in complex legal matters. Additionally, it misunderstood the statutory language that requires equal distribution to descendants per stirpes.
Section 1.1: The Limitations of AI in Legal Interpretation
As I probed further, I asked a more intricate question about the inheritance rights of an adopted sibling. The response was unsatisfactory, indicating that the adopted sibling would not inherit from their biological family, ignoring nuances of Illinois law regarding adoption.
In a prior case, I successfully argued that my client, who was adopted, was entitled to inherit from a deceased uncle due to specific legal stipulations surrounding adoption and inheritance rights.
755 ILCS 5/2–4(d): An adopted child is not considered a child of a natural parent unless certain conditions are met, such as the death of a natural parent prior to adoption.
Section 1.2: The Complexity of Legal Language
The complexity of Illinois statutes often poses a challenge for even experienced legal professionals. The legislative service attempts to preserve the traditional language of the law to avoid unintended consequences, yet this can hinder clarity and understanding.
Chapter 2: The Future of Legal AI
In this evolving landscape, questions arise about the efficacy of AI in interpreting intricate legal statutes and case law. The chatbot's performance in my tests reveals a significant gap in comprehension, suggesting that while AI may assist in some areas, it still lacks the nuanced understanding required for effective legal practice.
The first video, "How ChatGPT Will Replace Lawyers," discusses the potential impact of AI on the legal profession and the challenges it faces in accurately interpreting laws.
Conversely, the second video, "Why ChatGPT Can't Replace Lawyers: The Limits of AI," highlights the constraints of AI in handling complex legal scenarios, emphasizing the need for human oversight in legal matters.
In conclusion, while chatbots may offer assistance in legal inquiries, they cannot yet replace the nuanced understanding and expertise of human lawyers. As technology continues to evolve, the legal field must remain vigilant in ensuring that AI tools are used appropriately and that critical legal decisions do not rely solely on automated systems.