Technology is changing faster than ever as the rapid pace of technological advancements are increasing. Experts explored the emergence of ChatGPT within the fields of computer science, education and law and highlighted perspectives on how ChatGPT’s usage can impact language and communication.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Law organised a panel discussion enitled ‘The Use of ChatGPT: Perspectives from Computer Science Education and Law’. Dr. Susan L Karamanian, Dean, HBKU’s College of Law, and Dr. Amal Al Malki, Founding Dean, HBKU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) delivered the opening remarks and Dr. Georgios Dimitropoulos, Assistant Professor, College of Law moderated the event.

Dr. Karamanian said,“The reality that AI-powered algorithms such as ChatGPT can achieve high levels of linguistic competence forces us to ask fundamental questions on how we practice law and education. Through initiatives like the Law & Tech Talk series, HBKU’s College of Law is committed to addressing today’s legal challenges with a future-oriented view and awareness of rapid technological developments.”

Experts during the panel discussion organised by HBKU’s College of Law.

The Law & Tech Talk panel included Dr. Michael J Benedik, Provost, HBKU, Dr. Roberto Di Pietro Professor, HBKU’s CSE, Dr. George Mikros, Professor, CHSS, and Dr. Philipp Hacker, Professor, European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder). They delved into the potential implications of AI-powered language generation and its impact on communication. The discussion centered on the challenges of using AI in legal settings and the future of written essay assessments across all levels of education.

Speaking about the technology Dr. Michael J Benedik said,“It may not all be accurate or reliable, this may be particularly problematic if ChatGPT academic content is used in academic papers or other scholarly work without proper verification or scrutiny.”

“Our work is to ensure the quality of that output. There is a risk that ChatGPT could be used to generate fake research or academic content. As technology advances and becomes more sophisticated it may become possibly convincing but false research findings of other academic contents using ChatGPT, this can have serious implications for the credibility and integrity of academic research and scholarship,” he added.

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI and released in November 2022.

HBKU’s College of Law hosts internationally recognised faculty that bring substantial expertise to contemporary legal issues of profound relevance to Qatar, the region and beyond. Situated at a global crossroad of culture, business, and geopolitics, the College is a knowledge hub for promoting an understanding of the importance of the rule of law in today’s dynamic world.