Chat GPT Is Not Good At Legal Research...So Let's Use It To Teach LegaL Research. This is a great article by David S. Kemp, the Managing Editor of Verdict, and a former Law Professor. As a former Law Professor myself, I can attest to the fact that Law Professors spend the bulk of their time briefing and discussing appellate case law in their classes. Of course, that also entails a discussion of the statutes, regulations and other materials that serve as the incubators for the disputes resolved in case law. But, the actual learning of how to find applicable case or statutory law is a subject usually relegated to a couple of first year courses, and is really learned in the trenches. In my day, pulling case books off the shelf, poring through indexes and treatises, and then, later in my early career, learning how to search cases collected on CDRoms, and later the Internet and computers. Chat GPT and the other current resources are really tools to analyze a complete database of legal materials, and they aren't actually current. (Chat GPT is up to around April, 2023). And, due to the construction of the algorithms, the bots tend to make up citations occasionally, or, as is more common, they refer the user to an actual database of cases, or a lawyer. But, if not useful as a case finder, they are really good at distilling a body of legal knowledge into a cogent analysis of a particular legal problem, which is the first thing law students need to learn how to do. So, I am not afraid of the future of generative AI. I look at it as making lawyer's abilities enhanced. With these computer tools, we can all become legal researchers on figurative steroids. Meet the super lawyer, who can leap complex legal issues with a single prompt. Now, get out there and lawyer on.
]]>The Generative AI Wars - Competition Rages On. Working on a Large Language Model last updated in April 2023, CoPilot, by Microsoft, now does not require a $20 a month Pro subscription to access the latest OpenAI GPT-4 Turbo model. I didn't subscribe, even though Microsoft has put a handy direct access button in the lower right corner of my screens, because I am already paying $20 a month to Open AI for the original version. But, now, Microsoft is offering access for free in CoPilot. If you have it, you need to set "Creative" mode by clicking the icon, and you are set. Always remember that Generative AI is in its infancy, and accuracy may be an issue. So, if the situation warrants, check your work. For my day to day answers to general legal questions, AI has proven to be a time saver, and gets quick definitive, well written answers to problems that would have taken hours to track down in the past. If you aren't using this, you are falling behind. Of course, I have been saying the same thing since the development of Email.
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The Generative AI Wars - Competition Rages On. Working on a Large Language Model last updated in April 2023, CoPilot, by Microsoft, now does not require a $20 a month Pro subscription to access the latest OpenAI GPT-4 Turbo model. I didn't subscribe, even though Microsoft has put a handy direct access button in the lower right corner of my screens, because I am already paying $20 a month to Open AI for the original version. But, now, Microsoft is offering access for free in CoPilot. If you have it, you need to set "Creative" mode by clicking the icon, and you are set. Always remember that Generative AI is in its infancy, and accuracy may be an issue. So, if the situation warrants, check your work. For my day to day answers to general legal questions, AI has proven to be a time saver, and gets quick definitive, well written answers to problems that would have taken hours to track down in the past. If you aren't using this, you are falling behind. Of course, I have been saying the same thing since the development of Email.
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Microsoft CoPilot Offers GPT-4 Turbo Working on a Large Language Model last updated in April 2023, CoPilot, by Microsoft, now does not require a $20 a month Pro subscription to access the latest OpenAI GPT-4 Turbo model. I didn't subscribe, even though Microsoft has put a handy direct access button in the lower right corner of my screens, because I am already paying $20 a month to Open AI for the original version. But, now, Microsoft is offering access for free in CoPilot. If you have it, you need to set "Creative" mode by clicking the icon, and you are set. Always remember that Generative AI is in its infancy, and accuracy may be an issue. So, if the situation warrants, check your work. For my day to day answers to general legal questions, AI has proven to be a time saver, and gets quick definitive, well written answers to problems that would have taken hours to track down in the past. If you aren't using this, you are falling behind. Of course, I have been saying the same thing since the development of Email.
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It isn't poetry. My next book is an attempt to bring Stoic Philosophy to everyone. Philosophy For The Rest Of Us is my take on the fact that most preconceptions about the complex nature of philosophy scholarship misses the point. We are all looking for wisdom in living happy lives. Here is the wholesale blurb for the new book:
""Philosophy for the Rest of Us: Ruminations on the Good Life"
Dive into the world of Stoicism with "Philosophy for the Rest of Us," a compelling journey through the ancient wisdom that remains startlingly relevant in today's world. This book is more than just a collection of philosophical thoughts; it's a practical guide to living a fulfilling life, grounded in the teachings of Stoicism but presented in a way that's accessible to everyone.
Each chapter of the book tackles different aspects of life, from the inevitability of death to the joy of gratitude, through a Stoic lens, making profound concepts not only understandable but also applicable to daily life. The author skillfully interweaves personal anecdotes, historical narratives, and philosophical insights, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives and choices.
Whether you're dealing with the challenges of modern living, seeking inner peace, or simply curious about Stoic philosophy, this book offers valuable lessons. It reminds us that the essence of a good life lies not in external achievements or possessions but in mastering our reactions, embracing gratitude, and living in the present moment.
"Philosophy for the Rest of Us" is an essential read for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of life with grace, strength, and wisdom. It's a testament to the timeless relevance of Stoic philosophy, serving as both a thoughtful reflection on life's fundamental questions and a guide to practical action in the pursuit of a meaningful existence."
Let's take a journey together into some simple rules for happiness.
]]>No blog posts today. Spent the day putting the finishing touches on my next book. RV Lawyering is on hold. It occurred to me that, in our fractured society, some Stoic truths might be helpful. I will keep everyone updated on publication dates.
]]>The advances in generative AI, which gives computers the intelligence to interact with humans in real conversations, is being paired with advances in robotics to create the first personal assistant robots. It is just a matter of time until robots are helpmates around the house. These are jobs I don't think we will mind ceding to the robots. Here is Figure 1, dealing with its handler. Click the link to watch.
]]>If I wanted two slices of cheese, it would take too long to order.
]]>As an original Chat GPT Plus subscriber, I pay $20 per month for priority access to the latest Large Language Model used by Open AI, which, at this time is GPT-4.5. However, I noticed, on my Windows computer, the addition of a button in the lower right of the screen that takes me to the Microsoft AI offering, CoPilot. I was curious about whether I needed both, since CoPilot also has a priority based product, which also costs $20 a month. Since CoPilot uses the same LLM as Chat GPT, I asked CoPilot to compare. This is the answer I received:
"The pricing strategies for Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT Plus differ due to the distinct features and services they offer. ChatGPT Plus is a subscription plan that provides users with enhanced features of the ChatGPT service, such as general access even during peak times, faster response times, and priority access to new features and improvements, all for $20 per month1.
Microsoft Copilot, on the other hand, is integrated with Microsoft 365 apps and offers a range of productivity tools and AI capabilities. It’s designed to assist users in various tasks across different applications, which may justify a different pricing structure. For instance, Copilot Pro offers premium AI features, including priority access to GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo, and is priced at $20 per user per month2. Additionally, there’s a version of Copilot for Microsoft 365 that costs $30 per user per month with an annual commitment, providing integration with Teams, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and other Microsoft 365 apps3.
These pricing differences reflect the varying levels of service, integration, and features provided by each platform. Users can choose the option that best fits their needs and budget."
In other words, Microsoft is offering a version of the same product, tailored to its applications, and accessible from within the applications. I also get the feeling that it is more attuned to advising how to use Microsoft apps for particular tasks. Both are superior to the other AI offerings, in my opinion, because they allow, in the premium versions, the ability to create personalized databases, created by the user. I use this to create legal research apps, one of which pulls together everything available on the Internet relating to Florida specific legal databases. AI isn't going to take over the world. But, if you are a tech savvy lawyer, it will make you a lawyer on legal research steroids.
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