Extract from Alfred Olufemi’s article “African Law Firm Under Investigation For AI-Generated Case References”
The South African Legal Practice Council is probing a local boutique after a high court judge found that the firm sourced non-existent case references with artificial intelligence technology.
Pietermaritzburg-based Surendra Singh and Associates, representing a politician in a civil appeal, cited nine case authorities in its application but only two could be found to exist, according to Judge Elsje-Marie Bezuidenhout.
While the source of the authorities quoted remain unknown, Bezuidenhout concluded the firm had relied on AI and ChatGPT, which was “irresponsible and downright unprofessional”.
”In this age of instant gratification, this incident serves as a timely reminder to, at least, the lawyers involved in this matter that when it comes to legal research, the efficiency of modern technology still needs to be infused with a dose of good old-fashioned independent reading,” she stated in her January 8 ruling.