It’s good to talk, so let’s ChatGPT

I received a mailing list email the other week stating: “AI won’t replace lawyers, but lawyers who can use AI will replace those who can’t”, so I thought I’d get acquainted with the Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT), which I’d previously thought of as a “student cheat-bot”.

It can understand human language and produce text that closely resembles human-generated content. It harvests its information from the huge resources on the internet and comes up with content, not entirely free of plagiarism, but I guess this isn’t an issue for those who aren’t students or journalists. 

I gave it the following instruction:

Write a paragraph aimed at car traders in the UK in relation to their duties under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 in 300 words.

And it came up with this:

“Attention Car Traders in the UK,

As professionals in the automotive industry, it is essential to be well-informed about your responsibilities under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. This legislation safeguards the rights of consumers when purchasing vehicles from you, ensuring fair and transparent transactions. As a car trader, you must provide accurate and comprehensive information about the cars you sell, including their history, condition, and any potential defects. Misleading or deceptive statements are strictly prohibited, and you must not withhold any crucial details that could influence a buyer’s decision.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, your customers are entitled to vehicles that meet specific standards of quality and durability. The cars you sell must be fit for the intended purpose and free from any hidden faults at the time of purchase. If a customer discovers a defect within 30 days of buying the vehicle, they have the right to a full refund or a repair or replacement, depending on their preference. This “short-term right to reject” puts the onus on you to ensure the vehicles you sell are of satisfactory quality and in proper working order.

However, your duties do not end there. Beyond the initial 30 days, customers still possess rights to have any faults rectified. If a problem arises within six months of purchase, it is presumed that the defect was present at the time of delivery, unless you can demonstrate otherwise. Consequently, you are responsible for offering a free repair or replacement, or issuing a partial refund if the customer wishes to keep the car. Should a defect surface after six months, the onus shifts to the customer to prove the issue was present at the time of purchase, but you must still be ready to address any valid complaints.

Being aware of your obligations under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 not only safeguards the rights of your customers but also enhances your reputation as a trustworthy car trader. Complying with this legislation fosters customer satisfaction and loyalty, thereby contributing to the success and longevity of your business. By upholding transparency, fairness, and adherence to the law, you can create a positive and reliable image for your dealership and contribute to a thriving automotive market in the UK.”

AI has advised on a rebuttable presumption in law and passed a comment on the impact strong consumer protections have on consumer confidence and the economy. It won’t be long before it can come up with a complex legal argument in respect of a dispute. There is no doubt AI is creeping – or perhaps racing – into all of our lives and work. Goldman Sachs reported in March that AI could replace the equivalent of 300 million jobs worldwide although they sweetened the news with speculation it could also mean a productivity boom. The construction and maintenance industries cannot be automated by AI, but administrative, legal, and to some extent sales and marketing can be. The automotive industry encompasses them all.