Brazilian Lawmakers Pass ChatGPT-Drafted Law

AI-Generated Law Passes in Porto Alegre Council, Igniting Debate on AI's Role in Legislation.

In a groundbreaking move, the Porto Alegre council in Brazil passed a law drafted with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model. The law prohibits the government from charging citizens for replacing stolen water meters. However, the revelation that none of the 36 council members who unanimously approved the bill were aware of the AI involvement has sparked a broader conversation on using AI in legislation.

Councilman Ramiro Rosário admitted using ChatGPT to compose the proposal, using a concise 49-word prompt to guide the AI. Rosário revealed that he kept the AI involvement a secret, fearing that the council might reject the proposal solely because it was crafted by artificial intelligence.

"It would be unfair to the population to run the risk of the project not being approved simply because it was written by artificial intelligence," said Rosário.

Initially sceptical, Hamilton Sossmeier, the city council president, considered Rosário's methods a "dangerous precedent." However, after further examination, he acknowledged that the use of AI in legislative processes might become a trend.

This incident raises concerns about the potential risks and challenges associated with AI-generated content in the legal field. Earlier this year, two New York attorneys faced criticism for using ChatGPT to cite non-existing cases, leading to a $5,000 penalty and case dismissal.

Andrew Perlman, dean at Suffolk University Law School, emphasised that AI chatbots are not a substitute for human lawyers, lacking the understanding, judgement, and interpretive skills essential in legal frameworks.

In response to such incidents, Judge Brantley Starr, a Texas federal judge, instituted a "Mandatory Certification Regarding Generative Artificial Intelligence," requiring lawyers to declare that no AI assistance was used in preparing their case submissions.

Another ChatGPT-drafted bill in Massachusetts that aims to control the use of artificial intelligence is awaiting vote. Watermarking ChatGPT-generated content is something that Senator Barry Finegold, who worked with the AI chatbot on this bill, also supports.

As AI continues to play an increasingly prominent role across various industries, its integration into legislative processes raises questions about reliability, transparency, and the need for ethical guidelines in leveraging artificial intelligence in lawmaking. The Porto Alegre incident catalyses a broader dialogue on the implications of AI in shaping legal frameworks.