AI Use by Expert Witness Sparks Legal Controversy in Texas Trial

Expert witness faces scrutiny after using AI to draft report in $61.5M Texas explosion case. Courts see rise in AI-generated legal errors.

Editorial Desk

September 18, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Houston, United States — A high-profile legal case has reignited concerns about the use of artificial intelligence in courtroom proceedings after an expert witness was accused of relying heavily on AI tools to shape his testimony.

The dispute centers on a multimillion-dollar lawsuit involving a deadly factory explosion in Texas, where plaintiffs allege that 3M, a major manufacturing company, failed in its safety responsibilities. The expert witness, Jason Autenrieth, reportedly used ChatGPT to draft over 80% of his report, according to the plaintiffs’ attorneys.

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Autenrieth, a director at KnightHawk Engineering, initially denied that AI wrote his report but later admitted it helped with formatting and other aspects. His use of AI sparked debate among legal professionals about the reliability of AI-assisted testimony, with some warning that such tools can introduce bias and inaccuracies into legal evidence.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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