By Okechukwu Onuegbu
A legal luminary and Principal Partner, the Law Zoomers, Barrister Amaka Ezeno has urged students to refrain from over dependence on Artificial Intelligence (AI), noting that it could turn them into lazy, unproductive and unprofessional.
Ezeno stated this at a lecture entitled 'AI Revolution; Impact of Artificial Intelligence on legal Practice,' during the maiden Dinner and Award ceremony of the Law Students Association (LAWSA) of the Paul University, Awka.
The event also featured unveiling of Faculty Journal, lecture, awards presentation, LAWSA pageantry, among others.
According to her, AI tools have made many students lazy and uninterested in extensive search for information and knowledge despite that the materials were often inaccurate, prone to errors and biases.
"The use of AI even though highly recommended can sometimes be misleading. AI has cut down the creative aspect of research. It has made students lazy both in research and training and impacts negatively on their character."
"As law students, we must be able to verify what we get from such a platform, think critically and analytically, and evaluate the credibility and reliability. Easily relying on AI-generated content can hinder your ability to develop these essential skills.
"A lawyer who relies excessively on AI-generated materials may end up providing substandard legal services, which can damage reputation and lead to legal and professional consequences," she recommended.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor, Paul's University, Awka, Reverend Professor Obiora Nwosu, noted that AI in actual sense was not intelligent as it regurgitates what it was fed by individuals who are mostly not professionals.
On his part, the Head, Department of Public Law, Paul's University, Dr Chibuike Okafo, noted that AI could make law students to become unproductive as well as run foul to privacy, copyright and others.
He further stressed that legal practitioners ought not to rely on AI because they were expected to be independent, open minded and resourceful, and urged students of law to minimise usage of it so as to excel in the profession upon graduation.
In a remark, Chairman of the occasion, Barr Nnamdi Anagor commended the Paul University law faculty for the initiative, noting that the theme was apt and timely.
Earlier, the Dean of the Faculty, Prof Carol Arinze-Umeobi, described the event as an annual get together aimed at bringing the students and faculty members to interact with experts, while promoting culture of intellectual discourse, critical thinking, and academic excellence.