Leap Year is Cancelled: A Cautionary Tale of Generative AI in the Legal Sphere
The advent of generative artificial intelligence (AI) will change the way we practice intellectual property (IP) law. However, I almost fell out of my chair when AI told me 2024 was not a leap year (spoiler alert – it is). This recent incident involving ChatGPT, serves as a perfect example of the pitfalls on relying on AI. It highlights the need for careful scrutiny when integrating AI into professional practices and demonstrates that these purportedly advanced tools still have trouble performing even the most rudimentary tasks.
Accurate Date Calculation in Intellectual Property (IP)
Accurate date calculation is crucial in intellectual property. Missing deadlines can result in the loss of IP rights, jeopardizing significant investments and innovations. Recently, I had to calculate two deadlines falling on the last day of February. I am currently testing ChatGPT 4.0 and asked it to review my calculations. In both cases, it informed me that 2024 was not a leap year, and that February 29, 2024, was not an actual date. If I had relied on this output, I could have put my client’s IP at risk and subjected my firm to liability. More importantly, this repeated, obvious error underscores the risk of blindly relying on AI, even to perform the most mechanical and rudimentary tasks.
2024 is a Leap Year
A leap year is a calendar year that contains an extra day added to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical or seasonal year. In the Gregorian calendar, which is most widely used today, a leap year occurs every four years to compensate for the fact that a year is not exactly 365 days, but approximately 365.25 days. 2024 is a leap year, and February 29, 2024, is a leap day.
Generative AI and ChatGPT
ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is a state-of-the-art language processing AI capable of understanding and generating human-like text. Its potential applications in the legal field are vast, from drafting documents to assisting in complex legal research. However, as with any tool, it is only as effective as its programming and the data it has been trained on.
The Leap Year Error - An AI Pitfall
In highlighting the error made by ChatGPT regarding the 2024 leap year, we are reminded of the fallibility of advanced AI systems. The leap year determination is rudimentary—something that computers have been calculating correctly for more than fifty years. This should be an easy task for AI. Yet, ChatGPT failed on at least two occasions to recognize 2024 as a leap year, explicitly telling me it was not. This incident, evidenced by the provided screenshots, highlights the potential pitfalls of incorporating AI into your business. If AI fails to correctly account for a leap year, a basic task readily confirmed by publicly available data sets, what other facts might it be getting wrong?
The Double-Edged Sword of AI in Law
AI promises to revolutionize legal practices; however, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of human oversight. Lawyers, paralegals, and other legal practitioners must ensure that the information provided by AI is accurate and applicable.
As we embrace the era of AI, including tools like ChatGPT, it is essential for legal practitioners to exercise caution. This leap year error underscores the importance of a balanced approach – leveraging AI’s strengths while being acutely aware of its limitations. The future of law with AI is promising, but it necessitates a careful, informed, and critical approach.
About the Author: Walter Welsh practices patent and trademark at his firm Welsh IP Law, an intellectual property firm based in Darien, Connecticut. Welsh IP Law works directly with engineers, scientists, and executives to develop and grow intellectual property portfolios that protect and strengthen the business position. Its clients include Fortune 500 companies, global brands, family businesses, and start-ups.
Welsh IP Law is an intellectual property law firm based in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Our passion is increasing the value of our client’s business through strategic patent and trademark protection. We work directly with engineers, scientists, and executives to develop and grow intellectual property portfolios that protect and strengthen the client’s business. Our clients include Fortune 500 companies, global brands, family businesses, and start-ups from around the world.