Many lawyers already see the writing on the wall. AI is set to transform virtually every industry imaginable, and it seems that the world of divorce is no exception. Like many workers, some attorneys fear the kinds of changes that AI might bring. In the same way that a factory worker fears being replaced by robotics, a lawyer might fear being replaced by AI software. While some might argue that AI can never match the capabilities of a legitimate, experienced divorce lawyer, it is worth noting that many spouses are not looking for perfection. Instead, their primary priority is affordability. But could AI really make divorce more affordable in the future?
Why Many Spouses Might Be Tempted to Try an AI-Powered Divorce
Spouses who can afford lawyers comfortably probably will not experiment with an AI-based solution. Instead, the real “guinea pigs” in this scenario might be the spouses who currently cannot afford to get a divorce in the first place. Some studies have shown that up to one-third of all spouses who want to get a divorce cannot do so because of financial limitations. These spouses are forced to remain in a state of limbo – formally separated but without a final divorce decree. Unless they finalize their divorces, they cannot remarry, achieve true financial independence, or simply move on with their lives.
These spouses might be tempted to try an AI-based solution. And who can blame them? With no other options on the table, spouses are eager to test out this new technology. But can it really provide results?
New AI-Powered Divorce Platform Officially Launches
In December of 2024, Divorce.law published a press release announcing the launch of “Victoria” – a new AI divorce consultant. The company promises that this AI-powered consultant can guide spouses through a divorce in the same way as a human lawyer.
However, its functionality seems to be limited to education rather than actual legal action. The tool was created to help spouses who feel overwhelmed when searching the web for answers. As we all know, the net is filled with all kinds of divorce-related articles. These articles might be published by financial institutions, psychology websites, and divorce law firms themselves.
At the end of the day, Victoria seems to be yet another chatbot. Spouses can ask her questions and receive answers based on standard GPT-4 technology. Representatives of Divorce.law insist that the chatbot can also be useful for divorce lawyers – especially in the context of SEO and lead generation.
AI May Make Divorce More Affordable in Less Obvious Ways
AI may not directly “replace” lawyers – at least not in the way many people imagine. The strength of this technology lies primarily in data analysis, and a machine learning system can be trained to sift through data faster than any human mind.
Some have pointed out that this type of technology could be extremely useful in the context of property division. With the right training, a machine learning system could analyze all of the various aspects of a family estate – including complex assets, tax implications, and the future budgets of each spouse. In theory, this may allow spouses to use AI to create a property division agreement in private – without help from an attorney. However, it remains to be seen whether any modern spouse would be willing to trust this process.
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