Don’t rely on AI to write construction contracts, experts advise

Although AI-powered large language models (LLMs) can be powerful tools, they are too flawed to replace the work of lawyers in drafting construction contracts, experts say.

Construction attorneys have found that AI is useful, but using it as a one-stop shop for contracts is ill advised. AI is prone to hallucinations—in the legal realm it has made up facts and misrepresented legal cases, even creating bogus ones. 

It’s just too risky to rely on AI to create contracts, construction attorneys say. A lawyer quoted in a Construction Dive report said she fears clients could be using AI on their own without discussing it with her.

AI is proving to be effective in reviewing contracts for specific provisions and performing research, but human oversight is still necessary. “AI tools need to be prompted by people who already know the law, in order to flag if something that it produces is suspect,” the report noted.