{
  "id": 8276811,
  "title": "Use of AI backfires on an expert witness at trial: \"They have biases\"",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/use-of-ai-backfires-on-an-expert-witness-at-trial-they-have-biases",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-18T17:10:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ai-expert-witness-lawsuit-trial/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the courtroom has come under scrutiny after plaintiffs in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit alleged that an expert witness utilized ChatGPT to generate more than 80% of his expert report. The case, which centers around a factory explosion in Texas that resulted in three deaths and extensive property damage, has raised concerns about the reliability of AI-assisted testimony.\n\nJason Autenrieth, the expert witness, admitted to using AI to aid in drafting his report but defended his research. He stated that he used AI to assist with formatting, structuring, and drafting his report after thoroughly reviewing the case materials. However, the plaintiffs' attorneys discovered that the report was largely generated by AI, with 300 pages of prompts sent to ChatGPT, including questions about the machines involved in the explosion and strategies to undermine the opposing witness's testimony.\n\nLegal experts have warned that the use of AI in legal proceedings could lead to biased or unreliable evidence. Maura Grossman, a research professor at the University of Waterloo, emphasized that AI tends to be \"sycophantic\" and may provide slanted responses rather than objective or neutral ones. Damien Charlotin, an adjunct professor at the University of California College of Law, has documented over 1,300 instances of AI \"hallucinations\" in legal proceedings since 2023, resulting in fabricated information.\n\nIn this Texas case, Autenrieth was hired by 3M just weeks before the trial began. The plaintiffs' attorneys questioned the authenticity of the report, citing thousands of pages of prompts sent to ChatGPT. Despite initially denying using AI, Autenrieth admitted to using it for formatting and structuring his report after reviewing the evidence. The jury ultimately ruled in favor of 3M, finding the company negligent in its safety checks, and awarded the victims $61.5 million.",
  "summary": "The use of artificial intelligence in the courtroom is drawing fresh attention after an expert witness in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit used ChatGPT to help create his report.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}