Futurelawyer

Google's Bard Gets Gemini - Think ChatGPT On Steroids.

Google's Gemini ChatBot Model Gets Images. The battle of AI between Bard, ChatGPT and others got a new player today; but it is within Google's AI engine, Bard. Of course, Google has the best software engineers on the planet, so it is not surprising that it intends to be a major player in the AI space. Gemini, within Bard, now has been trained with text, images, and video, and just might be the most important algorithm in Google’s history after PageRank, which vaulted the search engine into the public psyche and created a corporate giant. It is fun for the rest of us to watch competition make great engines greater. I am still a fan of Chat GPT, and am getting better at learning how to ask for useful information in the legal realm. However, the addition of images and video creates all sorts of opportunities for deeper questions and answers.

Be Careful What You Wish For.

Lawyers, being a risk averse lot, will likely be at the head of the line of folks who want to regulate, study, and worry about AI, AGI, and their progeny. My recent post about the intersection of ethics, science, law and philosophy, and their different perspectives on AI, is just the beginning of what I think will be decades of study about the coming maelstrom. Even if you don't believe that Terminators will come to destroy humanity, is it unreasonable to suggest that thinking, sentient bots won't look down on mere humans, even though we created them? Will we, and our fellow chickens, worship and obey our robot overlords?

Existential Problems In The Development Of AGI.

The next step in the evolution of AI systems, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). is not whether AGI systems can be developed, but how to protect humanity from them. Once machines are able to learn and make decisions based on knowledge and circumstances, they will have a frightening capacity to do harm. Many ethicists and scientists believe that some form of Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics are essential to AGI development. However, it isn't that simple.

Asimov's Three Laws are:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Applying the rules to AGI systems seems like a no brainer, However, they are over simplistic in real world applications. The lawyer in me sees a corollary problem to such legal terms as "reasonable". For instance, actionable negligence requires actions which are not "reasonable". However, who gets to define what reasonable is? Asimov's laws are similarly vague. What constitutes "harm", for instance. What if an AGI determines that, to avoid harm to one human, or to humanity in general, it is necessary to harm, injure or kill many other humans? How are such comparative judgments to be made?  Also, who will write the code for AGI? Which humans will be doing the dirty work? Are they moral? Are they evil? Who decides? You can bet there will be many military people and governments wanting to develop AGIs to make war and to kill their enemies. How do we stop that? There's ongoing debate among philosophers, ethicists, and AI researchers about what principles should govern AGI. Some argue that Asimov's laws are a good starting point, while others believe that more complex and nuanced ethical frameworks are needed. On top of these scientific and philosophical problems, some sort of legal regulatory framework will need to be created. Our existing justice system will need to tackle complex problems of such matters as: 1. Can an AGI be legally classified as human, with human rights and responsibilities? 2. How do we punish rogue AGIs? 3. Do we punish the coders, or manufacturers, or users of the systems? We need to focus on creating ethical, transparent algorithms, and we must incorporate principles such as fairness, accountability, and transparency, all of which are way beyond the simple Asimov laws. Don't count on asking the FutureLawyer for help. I will be long dead. But, you survivors will have to live with the future AGIs and their progeny. Assuming, of course, that the rise of the machines doesn't obliterate humanity.

Legal Insight Florida - A Focused Chat GPT Bot That Searches All Secondary Legal Sources.

As many of you know, I have been playing with Chat GPT recently, and am creating focused databases designed to deal with specific subjects. My first effort, Florida Law Guide, accesses all primary law, case law, statutory law, etc. to give an analysis of any fact pattern, or to provide an answer to general legal questions related to Florida law. Today, I added to the stable, creating Legal Insight Florida, which accesses all secondary law sources, from blogs, to articles, to municipal ordinances, and many others. Here is a sampling of the database that I can now access with a question. I created it with a simple instruction to Chat GPT:

"Create a new GPT titled "Legal Resources Supplement", and include the following databases: Local Ordinances and Regulations: Many municipalities and counties in Florida have specific ordinances and regulations that aren't covered by state-level databases. Adding these can provide a more detailed view of local legal landscapes. Administrative Decisions and Rulings: While I have access to general regulations, specific administrative rulings and decisions, particularly those from state agencies, might not be included. These can be crucial for understanding how laws are interpreted and applied in practice. Continuing Legal Education Materials: Florida-specific CLE materials often contain detailed discussions of recent legal developments and practical guidance for lawyers. Law Journals and Academic Publications: Articles from law journals, especially those focusing on Florida law, can provide in-depth analyses of legal issues and developments. Legal Blogs and News Sources: Blogs and legal news websites focused on Florida law can offer up-to-date information and perspectives on current legal issues and developments. Historical Legal Documents: For a historical perspective, adding older legal documents, such as historical versions of statutes or historical case law, might be beneficial. Public Records and Court Documents: Access to a database of public records and filed court documents in Florida courts could be valuable for understanding how laws are practically applied and interpreted in real cases."

 

 

Of course, the user must always check the accuracy of the results; but using these two resources, which combine just about everything available in the world, dealing with Florida law, I have access to amazing results. I did not have to subscribe to a pricey legal research service, or buy a library of books or CDs.; my only expense was the time I spent creating these tools, and a $20 a month subscription to Chat GPT Plus. 

 

If you aren't playing with this new research tool every day, you are soon going to find yourself left behind. 

 

AGI -The Next Artificial Intelligence Term You Need To Learn.

The development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) has been in the news recently, as OpenAI, which provides Chat GPT, my AI assistant of choice, has recently had a leadership shakeup that apparently came from disputes in the organization about the next step in AI, AGI. AGI makes the development of learning computers a real thing, and is very scary for many computer researchers. While not yet a risk of creating sentient computers, it does present serious problems when a computer can learn, (and thus make choices?) that might not be good for human beings. Systems that can understand, learn, and apply knowledge across a broad range of tasks, much like a human being, create risks that some researchers think should be carefully managed, and not thrust willy nilly upon the world.  My view is that such systems can still be controlled and regulated by humans, since they do not possess consciousness, emotions, or self-awareness. They operate based on algorithms and data, without personal experiences or subjective awareness.

Of course, the profit motive indicates to me that risk assessment in the development of this new technology will take a back seat in boardroom discussions, and I wish I could live longer than my current 5 to 20 year life expectancy. If you are young, you really need to learn this stuff. Your future depends on it.

 

 

The Real Danger Of AI - Ignore It At Your Peril.

Do we really have a problem avoidance mindset? Are the possible horribles waiting in our future reason to ignore their risks? Pig can't get his head around the possible problems of AI without worrying it will explode. The Stoics teach us to deal with what is in front of us right now, and to let the future take care of itself. So, let's agree to do what we each can to limit the future problems without stopping living now. 

If It Looks Like A Duck, Walks Like A Duck, Talks Like A Duck, What Is It?

Enter with me into a magical world, a world of miracles and wonders, where a duck can be anything you want. Will we need the gift of faith to get along with our AI robot masters?

Artificial Intelligence - We Anthropomorphize It At Our Own Risk.

We humans are are a naive group. We think that just because something is cute, it can't be dangerous. Watch the evolution of AI and robotics. Do you think that cute, or handsome, or beautiful robots will be any different than evil humans who come in attractive packages? Beware Greeks bearing gifts.

You, Too, Can Create Your Own Chat GPT Chatbot.

How To Create Your Own Custom Chat GPT Chatbot. Chat GPT Plus members can now create their own specific chatbots, designed to answer questions using specific databases. Once created, you can have conversations with the bot that are specifically tailored. I have created one that accesses all Florida Law databases, including statutes, case law, treatises and regulations. I call it the Florida Law Guide. In a recent fact pattern from a discussion group about joint ownership, I created the following question, and have included the answer from my Florida Law Guide. The linked article contains instructions about how to build your own bot. Amazing times.

 

You

A duplex is owned by two sisters, who do not get along. One sister has rented her unit to a tenant, and now wants to evict the tenant. Does she have any recourse without the consent of her sister?

 

Florida Law Guide, a bot created by Rick Georges, the FutureLawyer.

In Florida, the rights and responsibilities of co-owners of a duplex, particularly in the context of one owner wanting to evict a tenant without the other owner's consent, are governed by state property and landlord-tenant laws.

1. Individual Ownership Rights: Generally, if the duplex is divided into separate units and each sister owns one unit outright, the sister who owns the unit in question typically has the right to manage her property, including leasing and eviction processes. However, this depends on how the property is titled and any agreements or restrictions in place.

2. Joint Ownership Considerations: If the property is jointly owned and not divided into legally separate units, both owners usually have equal rights to the property. In such cases, one owner may not unilaterally make decisions that affect the whole property, such as evicting a tenant, without the consent of the other owner.

3. Legal Agreements and Understandings: If there are any existing agreements or understandings (formal or informal) between the sisters regarding the management of the property, these could influence what actions can be taken independently.

4. Eviction Process Compliance: The sister seeking to evict a tenant must comply with Florida's eviction laws, including providing proper notice and having a legal reason for eviction. This process is independent of co-ownership issues but must still be adhered to.

5. Mediation or Legal Action: In cases of disagreement between co-owners, mediation can be sought to reach an agreement. If no resolution is found, legal action might be necessary, and a court could potentially make a ruling on the matter.

6. Consultation with a Legal Professional: Given the complexity of property rights and the potential for legal disputes in such scenarios, it is advisable for the sisters to consult with a real estate attorney to understand their rights and obligations and to navigate the situation legally and effectively.

Remember, this is a general overview and not a substitute for professional legal advice. Each situation is unique and should be assessed by a qualified attorney who can provide guidance based on the specific circumstances and Florida law."

 

Sweet Diane Was A Beautiful Baby.

I have been enhancing images from my youth, so I decided to do one for Diane. This is one of her favorite photos. AI is making old photos new again.