A US man has apologized after appearing in a New York appeals court via a prerecorded video featuring an AI-generated avatar to represent him as legal counsel. The incident took place on March 26 during Jerome Dewald’s hearing in an employment dispute.
The video showed a youthful-looking man in a blue shirt and beige sweater, standing before a blurred virtual background — a stark contrast to Dewald’s actual appearance at age 74.
A report by the US media outlet NDTV reveals that the judge quickly paused the proceedings and asked if the speaker was the actual legal counsel.
The defendant admitted, “I generated that. That’s not a real person,” prompting the judge to shut off the video and express frustration over the lack of prior disclosure: “I don’t appreciate being misled.”
Dewald explained that he turned to AI after struggling with nervousness and speech clarity in past court appearances where he chose to be his own legal defense. Although he initially intended to create a digital version of himself, technical issues led him to use a generic avatar instead.
In a letter to the judges, Dewald clarified his intentions: “My intent was never to deceive but rather to present my arguments in the most efficient manner possible. However, I recognize that proper disclosure and transparency must always take precedence.”
By Nazrin Sadigova
Source: caliber.az
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