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In a surprising turn of events in the New York State Supreme Court, the introduction of an AI-generated avatar led to a swift reprimand from the presiding judge. The courtroom was thrown into disarray when Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels shouted across the room to abruptly halt the presentation.
Jerom Dewald, involved in an employment dispute, had anticipated delivering his statement on March 26, 2025, but opted for an unusual approach by allowing an AI avatar to communicate on his behalf. The avatar, which was entirely synthetic, depicted a light-skinned, blond male as it presented Dewald’s opening remarks.
Just moments into the avatar’s speech, Justice Manzanet-Daniels interrupted, questioning the validity of the presentation. “Okay, hold on, is that counsel for the case?” she demanded, before ordering the video to be stopped.
AI Avatar Cut Off in New York State Supreme Court
Dewald had submitted a request before his hearing, claiming to seek permission for the use of a pre-recorded video, but there was no explicit approval granted for the utilization of an AI-generated assistant. On the day of the hearing, the judges were taken aback by the presentation that did not feature Dewald himself.
According to reports from the Associated Press, Dewald intended to create a more personal AI avatar with assistance from a technology company in San Francisco but ultimately resorted to a generic model as time constraints loomed.
The rationale behind this decision stemmed from Dewald’s difficulties with speech; he believed the AI could deliver his message more clearly. Unfortunately for him, the judge’s reaction rendered this plan ineffective.
In response to the judge’s inquiries, Dewald confirmed the digital nature of the avatar, prompting Justice Manzanet-Daniels to express her frustration about not being informed of this detail ahead of time. “You did not tell me that, sir… I don’t appreciate being misled,” she stated firmly.
The judge further challenged Dewald’s assertions, questioning whether he truly had a speech impediment or was simply attempting to utilize the court proceedings for promotional purposes regarding his AI business venture. “You are not going to use this courtroom as a launch for your business, sir,” she remarked bluntly.
Reflecting on the episode post-hearing, Dewald admitted, “They chewed me up pretty good… The court was really upset about it.” Following the incident, he issued a formal apology to the court for the misunderstanding.
Source
www.dexerto.com