Spencer Fane attorney John Browning discussed his role as Chair of the State Bar of Texas’s recently assembled workgroup examining the ethical pitfalls and practical uses of AI as well as overall ethical implications of artificial intelligence in the legal profession in a Texas Lawyer article.

The 15-person workgroup consists of attorneys – including John – in private practice from across the state, from large and small firms, who all share a deep and abiding interest in artificial intelligence and a federal district court judge.

In the article, ‘We Need to Get Ahead of This”: Texas State Bar Weighs In on Artificial Intelligence, John describes how one of his AI-focused published works was cited in an opinion delivered by Tenth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice Tom Gray where none of the three published cases cited by the plaintiff’s attorney actually existed.

“It’s kind of a cautionary tale for lawyers. If they’re going to be seeking the assistance of AI in something like brief research or even writing, they need to be very, very cautious about reviewing the work.”

At Spencer Fane, John – a former justice on the Fifth Court of Appeals – views his role as a trial lawyer to be that of a problem-solver for his clients. Whether it’s analyzing a case’s potential for early resolution through a dispositive motion, working with a client to develop a defensive trial strategy, or putting his extensive writing and media experience to use in helping a client protect its brand in the public eye, John brings a pragmatic, problem-solving approach.

Read John’s full interview here.