Expert witness used ChatGPT to defend 3M in suit over deadly explosion that killed 3 charging $90K for report
An expert witness hired by 3M to testify in a bombshell lawsuit over a Houston explosion that killed three people used ChatGPT to write the vast majority of his “expert report” – while charging the manufacturing giant $90.000, according to a report.The unveiled chatbot prompts, detailed by news outlet 404 Media, show Josh Autenrieth, an expert with Knighthawk Engineering, telling ChatGPT to help him “create an exceptional expert witness report defending the standard of care at 3M” and to “show how 3M is 0% at fault for the explosion at Watson Grinding.” The ongoing litigation is one of several high-profile cases over who is responsible for a 2020 blast at Watson Grinding, a Houston manufacturing facility that leveled roughly 200 homes.Dozens of homeowners allege 3M failed to properly service the facility’s gas detection system that caused the explosion.3M hired Autenrieth as an expert at $475 an hour to prepare a report about the explosion – which turned out to be up to 90% composed by ChatGPT – the chatbot built by Sam Altman’s AI juggernaut OpenAI.
3M paid Knighthawk Engineering about $90,000 for Autenrieth’s report, according to court transcripts cited by 404 Media. Knighthawk’s Vice President Nathan Knight ripped the report as “fake news” and said the company “stands behind the professionalism and integrity of its engineers.” “Mr.Autenrieth utilized this technology as a tool to assist in reviewing questions, arguments, and counterarguments related to the case.
AI did not replace his engineering judgment.Mr.
Autenrieth developed and presented his own professional opinions and stands behind those opinions,” Knight said in a statement.“We strongly disagree with any characterization suggesting that the selective use of AI excerpts somehow replaces or invalidates Mr.Autenrieth’s independent engineering judgment or professional opinions.”3M didn’t immediately resond to requests for comment.Will Moye, one of the plain...