In a groundbreaking move, the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University (ASU) has announced that it will now allow college applicants to use artificial intelligence (AI) in preparation of their application materials. This decision reflects ASU’s 7th annual year of being ranked the number-one university in the country for innovation.
In an official press release, the ASU law school highlighted the increasing popularity of AI language models like ChatGPT and the growing role they play in modern education. Rather than resisting this new technological reality, ASU aims to equip the next generation of lawyers with the skills to harness AI’s potential.
Stacy Leeds, Willard H. Pedrick Dean, and Regents Professor of Law expressed the institution’s forward-thinking approach, stating, “Our law school is driven by an innovative mindset. By embracing emerging technologies and teaching students the ethical responsibilities associated with technology, we will enhance legal education and break down barriers that may exist for prospective students. By incorporating generative AI into our curriculum, we prepare students for their future careers across all disciplines.”
ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law is taking a comprehensive approach to this technological integration. The college has unveiled plans to offer multiple courses that delve into the laws, policies, and ethical dimensions surrounding artificial intelligence within the legal field.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT has been making waves across various industries, rapidly transforming the way work is done. Earlier this year, ChatGPT-4 achieved a significant milestone by successfully taking the Uniform Bar Examination, earning a score in the 90th percentile among test-takers. Researchers that scored ChatGPT’s bar exam said they were “somewhat surprised at the quality of the output which was generated.”
Arizona State University’s law school has not only embraced innovation but also paved the way for other educational institutions to consider the positive impact of AI integration. As AI technology inevitably enters the workplace, educational institutions will have no choice but to teach students how to be well-versed in this new technology.
This piece first appeared at TPUSA.
