“I Won”: Greedy Landlord Crumbles In Court After ChatGPT Helps Tenant Flip The Script

Contracts, agreements and other legal documents might seem, at a glance, to be pretty complicated and often hard to parse. After all, the language of the law has to be precise and encompass a lot of situations, so in general it’s almost always best to just get a lawyer. But they can be pretty expensive, so some folks take matters into their own hands.

A tenant shared how they used AI to analyze their rental agreement so as to sue their landlord for a fraudulent deposit deduction. They later shared an update about the court’s decision. We reached out to them via private message and will update the article when they get back to us.

Some landlords do try to fraudulently take people’s money

Person using ChatGPT on a laptop, aiding a tenant in a court case against a landlord.

Image credits: frimufilms (not the actual image)

But one netizen decided to use AI to help them fight an unlawful deduction

Tenant uses ChatGPT to challenge landlord in court without legal help.

Text about a landlord dispute over deposit deduction, highlighting tenant's lack of evidence for court battle.

Text detailing how ChatGPT helped a tenant win court case against a landlord over deposit law violation.

Text about a tenant using AI to learn court procedures and counter a landlord's claim.

Tenant examines document, assisted by ChatGPT, in court case against landlord.

Image credits: freepik (not the actual image)

They gave a few more details

Text from ChatGPT directs to legislation about rental deposit limits.

Legal text detailing damages and penalties for violations, related to a tenant using ChatGPT to challenge a landlord.

Text discussing the initial court hearing regarding a tenant's legal situation with a landlord.

Text discussing court update in October related to a tenant's victory over a landlord.

Text describing successful court outcome for tenant with AI help.

Image credits: MonkeyIncidentOf93

AI tools do have a number of drawbacks

This netizen has struck upon a very useful part of any large language model (LLM), the ability to look at a large piece of text and parse the useful bits. This applies to both the rental agreement as well as local laws, because tracking down the necessary legal rules can be quite the ordeal if you don’t know what you’re doing.

However, as many commenters note, the AI, ChatGPT in this particular case, doesn’t exactly replace your lawyer, it really does the job of a paralegal, while the tenant still has to double check everything. As they themselves claim, it’s probably a lot safer to just get a lawyer, but paying $20 for ChatGPT is definitely cheaper.

Double checking it’s “work” isn’t just recommended, it’s absolutely necessary. Remember, despite being labeled as artificial “intelligence,” these are, at best, very proficient chatbots. They do not know anything and simply summarize the billions of words of text found in whatever their data set is.

This text, in turn, is taken from the internet, which means it will, inevitably, contain falsehoods. After all, humans make mistakes all the time, which doesn’t stop folks from being “confidently incorrect.” Similarly, people can often hold outdated views or misremember things, which, again, does not stop them from confidently writing them down.

The risk is that a LLM will begin to amplify a mistake or misunderstanding by repeating it over and over again. This is called an algorithmic bias, where an LLM prioritizes some information simply because it is more common. The easiest example is the fact that most text online is in English, thereby skewing most of an LLM’s output towards Anglo-centric viewpoints.

Smartphone displaying AI folder with ChatGPT and Gemini apps on screen.

Image credits: Solen Feyissa (not the actual image)

But LLMs can be very useful tools in the right hands

Setting that aside, this post does show just how useful a LLM can be at breaking down tasks that might seem complicated. After all, most places have rigorous protections for tenants, but they tend to be buried in legal codes most folks do not have the time, skill or energy to dig through.

Indeed, the real takeaway from this is that most of us have probably been somehow defrauded by a landlord or perhaps employer just because we didn’t know the exact law or how to take any action against them. Having a tool that can answer questions or at least point you in the right direction can be absolutely invaluable.

Double and triple checking the information is still very important. Some companies have already put AI “agents” in place, much to the chagrin of folks who need to speak to a customer support representative. In extreme cases, they even cause very serious issues, for example, an AI-powered recipe bot for a New Zealand grocery store suggested ingredients for an “aromatic water mix,” which mixed bleach and ammonia. The actual fumes from this mix can kill you.

Bored Panda has even covered similar stories, of a mushroom identification book that was actually AI written, which led a family to be hospitalized after eating supposedly “safe” mushrooms. So if you have an annoying landlord, it can be useful to perhaps do your research, but always, always, always verify.

Tenant using ChatGPT on phone at desk with laptop, planning legal strategy against landlord.

Image credits: Vitaly Gariev (not the actual image)

The tenant also chatted with some commenters

Discussion on Greedy Landlord dispute, advice on using ChatGPT for counterarguments, tenant shares courtroom preparation.

Reddit comment about landlord and small claims court.

ChatGPT helps tenant argue against landlord in court for illegal deposit collection.

ChatGPT aids tenant in case against landlord; sensitive chat details discussed.

Tenant chats about using ChatGPT against a landlord in court.

ChatGPT helps tenant defeat greedy landlord in court, resolving deposit dispute over inflated damage claims.

Later, they shared how they did in court

Gavel on a courtroom table, symbolizing a legal victory for tenant assisted by ChatGPT against a landlord.

Image credits: Wavebreak Media (not the actual image)

Tenant uses ChatGPT against landlord, wins court case, shares viral story.

Text excerpt from a tenant sharing gratitude for support in a legal battle against a landlord.

Text summary about tenant court win against a greedy landlord withholding deposit and delaying repairs.

ChatGPT aids tenant in winning court case against landlord's unfair deductions.

Person holding a wallet with dollar bills, representing a legal win against a greedy landlord.

Image credits: rawpixel.com (not the actual image)

ChatGPT aids tenant in court victory against greedy landlord's illegal deposit demand.

ChatGPT aids tenant in legal defense, helping against landlord's claim with a strong, prepared case.

Court victory text detailing a tenant's win over a landlord after using ChatGPT for legal support.

Smartphone displaying ChatGPT app, key tool aiding tenant over landlord in court.

Image credits: Solen Feyissa (not the actual image)

Text about landlord introduced as public figure, highlighting interest in tenant court case with ChatGPT assistance.

Text describing a greedy landlord's unethical behavior contrasts with his role as an educator.

Text excerpt describing a landlord's refusal to return an illegal deposit, involving ethics and accountability.

Court judgment text excerpt about landlord's abuse of power, tenant's justice aided by ChatGPT.

Text describing a landlord's refusal to comply with a court ruling and threats of legal action.

Tenant receiving house keys from landlord in an office setting.

Image credits: kuprevich (not the actual image)

Text discussing tenant empowerment and justice against landlords using new technology for support.

Text discussing tenant rights, public accountability, and technology changing dynamics.

Screenshot of tenant advice on using ChatGPT responsibly, emphasizing fact-checking and consulting legal professionals.

Image credits: MonkeyIncidentOf93 

People applauded their plan

Reddit comments about using AI to assist tenants in court against landlords.

ChatGPT assists tenant in legal dispute over landlord's unlawful security deposit charges in court conversation.

Reddit user shares story about landlord's abuse and legal struggles in Lithuania.

Comment by user Itnew007, praising a post about a tenant winning in court with AI assistance.

ChatGPT assists in court victory for tenant against landlord, highlighting its usefulness as a legal tool.

Comment praising tenant victory, highlighting technology's role in empowering tenants against landlords.

Reddit comment praising ChatGPT's assistance in tenant's legal battle against landlord.

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