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Should Artificial Intelligence Supply Plain Meaning? The 11th Circuit Wants to Know

August 12, 2024
Michael S. Levine & Alex D. Pappas - Hunton Insurance Recovery Blog

Insurance coverage lawsuits often hinge on the plain and ordinary meaning of specific words or phrases. But not every word in an insurance policy can be defined. Yet without stable and predictable definitions, neither policyholders nor insurers can establish a clear and consistent scope of coverage. In a recent concurring opinion, Eleventh Circuit Judge Kevin Newsom suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) large language models (LLMs) could help resolve these definitional debates. His opinion in Snell v. United Specialty Insurance Company, No. 22-12581, 2024 WL 2717700 (11th Cir. May 28, 2024) highlights the pros and cons of calling upon technology to supply plain meaning.

Reprinted courtesy of Michael S. Levine, Hunton Andrews Kurth and Alex D. Pappas, Hunton Andrews Kurth

Mr. Levine may be contacted at mlevine@HuntonAK.com
Mr. Pappas may be contacted at apappas@HuntonAK.com