NBC News reported that a growing number of U.S. citizens are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity to navigate legal challenges, bypassing traditional law firms and achieving favorable outcomes in court. The trend highlights how AI is reshaping access to legal support.
Lynn White, an American resident of Long Beach, exemplified this shift when she faced eviction from her mobile home over unpaid rent. After losing a case with a court-appointed attorney, she used AI tools to draft an appeal. By providing documents and case details to ChatGPT, she identified procedural errors in the judge’s decisions, explored legal options, and compiled responses for the court, ultimately securing housing and debt relief.
Despite such successes, major AI developers have issued mixed messages about their products’ role in legal matters. Companies like Google and xAI explicitly warn users against relying on their services for legal advice, emphasizing that AI tools are not a substitute for professional guidance. However, many chatbots still offer legal-related responses, albeit with disclaimers about potential inaccuracies.
Another example involved Carrie Edwards, who used ChatGPT to assist with a lottery ticket. The AI helped her guess four of five winning numbers, leading to a $150,000 payout. Such cases underscore the expanding influence of AI in everyday decision-making, even as its limitations remain debated.
