The use of artificial intelligence–generated fake case law by the Parole Board in determining parole conditions is deeply disturbing.
We welcome the Attorney-General describing this recently revealed example of AI misuse as ‘unacceptable’, and his seeking an explanation of the Parole Board’s professional standards and assurances it won’t happen again.
But it raises bigger questions, for the Attorney General to answer, about the use of AI in a manner that could lead to justice being denied to Tasmanians who come before the courts.
Is AI widely used by the Parole Board, or a Justice Department that had its funding and staffing savagely cut by $68 million across the forward estimates in the last State Budget?
Justice Department staff have already been told to reprioritise tasks thanks to the Liberals’ commitment not to fill role vacancies. Has this meant DoJ staff will rely more on AI to release workload pressures?
Are there specific guardrails in place for how AI is used in the Department of Justice, as the Tasmanian Government’s guidelines for the use of AI recommends? It’s no AI hallucination to say they’re clearly and urgently needed.
There’s been plenty of warnings about how AI can generate false case law, and this is the most concrete local example. Are checks in place to ensure false material isn’t being relied on in the administration of justice?
Justice delivered fairly and equitably is too important to be contaminated by AI slop and fake case law. The potential for miscarriages of justice is real.
It’s already taking Tasmanians way too long to access the justice system, and the Liberals’ $68 million in cuts are only going to make that worse. Allowing the lazy, careless use of AI in an already overstretched justice and court system is completely unacceptable.
Tasmanians need to have confidence in their justice system.
The Attorney General must tell Tasmanians how he plans to ensure their justice system won’t be contaminated by AI slop and fake case law that could lead to justice being denied.
