Artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT are showing up everywhere. People use them to write emails, summarize documents, and even research legal questions. But a new lawsuit in the United States is raising an important question: can artificial intelligence cross the line into practicing law?
For Canadians researching separation or divorce, this issue matters more than it may first appear. Increasing numbers of people are turning to artificial intelligence tools to ask legal questions before speaking with a lawyer. While these tools can be useful for general information, relying on them for legal advice can lead to serious problems.
A recent court case illustrates exactly why.
The lawsuit against OpenAI
A lawsuit filed in the United States accuses the company behind ChatGPT of effectively practicing law without a license. The case was brought by Nippon Life Insurance Company of America in federal court in Illinois. According to the claim, a woman who had settled a disability benefits dispute later became suspicious about whether the settlement was fair. After her lawyer explained that she had signed a release that ended the case permanently, she uploaded the lawyer’s explanation into ChatGPT and asked whether she was being misled. The artificial intelligence system allegedly responded in a way that encouraged her to believe something was wrong.
The lawsuit claims she then dismissed her lawyer and began using ChatGPT to draft legal arguments and court documents in an attempt to reopen the case. The result was a flood of court filings. According to the complaint, she eventually filed more than twenty motions, along with subpoenas and other court documents, all with the assistance of artificial intelligence. The court rejected her attempts to reopen the matter. The insurance company now claims the artificial intelligence platform encouraged actions that breached a settlement agreement and misused the court process.
OpenAI has stated publicly that the lawsuit has no merit and points to its policies, which say its tools should not be used as a substitute for professional legal or medical advice. Regardless of how the lawsuit unfolds, the situation highlights an important issue.
Artificial intelligence is not a lawyer.
Why this matters for people going through divorce
In Canada, family law is complicated and highly fact specific. Separation agreements, parenting arrangements, support obligations and property division all depend on the details of each family’s situation.
Artificial intelligence tools can provide general explanations of legal concepts. They can summarize laws or outline common issues. But they cannot replace legal advice tailored to your circumstances.
Here are three reasons why relying on artificial intelligence alone can cause problems in family law matters:
- Artificial intelligence does not know your full situation. Divorce cases often hinge on facts that seem small but carry major legal consequences. Missing one detail can completely change the outcome.
- Artificial intelligence can produce confident sounding answers that are wrong or incomplete. Courts and lawyers see this increasingly. Documents generated by artificial intelligence sometimes contain incorrect legal principles or cases that do not exist.
- Artificial intelligence cannot protect you legally. A lawyer is regulated by a professional body, carries insurance, and has legal obligations to act in your best interests. Artificial intelligence has none of those responsibilities.
Where artificial intelligence can still help
That does not mean artificial intelligence has no role in the legal world.
Used properly, it can help people:
- Learn the basics of divorce law
- Prepare questions for a consultation with a lawyer
- Understand common terms such as equalization, parenting time and spousal support
- Organize documents or timelines
Think of it as a research assistant, not a legal advisor.
The key difference is that important decisions should still be reviewed with a qualified lawyer who understands the law in your province.
Divorce decisions have long term consequences
Family law decisions can affect finances, parenting arrangements and legal rights for years or even decades. A separation agreement or court order is not something to experiment with using an online tool. Once agreements are signed or court orders are made, reversing them can be extremely difficult.
The lawsuit against OpenAI highlights what can happen when people rely on artificial intelligence for legal strategy rather than seeking professional advice.
The bottom line
Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool. It can help people understand legal issues and prepare for conversations with professionals. But it cannot replace a lawyer.
If you are thinking about separation or divorce in Ontario or anywhere in Canada, the smartest move is still the same one it has always been: get proper legal advice before making major decisions. Technology can assist you along the way. It just should not be the one driving the case.
If you want to learn more about separation agreements, divorce strategy or protecting yourself legally during a breakup, explore the resources available on FamilyLLB.com or speak with a qualified family lawyer about your situation.
