"Generative AI" != speech-to-text, diarization etc.

In a July 23 Memorandum Decision from the Court of Appeals of Indiana (noted by Robert Freund and 404 Media), Judge Jeffrey L. Marchal complains that

The Transcript contains various types of errors. There are numerous typos that change the meaning of the testimony, question, or objection. See, e.g., Tr. Vol. II at137:18, 144:10, 147:10; Tr. Vol. III at 6:13. In some instances, witnesses’ and trial attorneys’ names are reported incorrectly. Tr. Vol. II at 220:5; Tr. Vol. III at 142:15–20, 143:15, 162:4–5. At one point in the Transcript, a motion, presumably made by the State, is attributed to the trial court. Tr. Vol. II at 107–08. At another point, an objection, presumably made by Williams, is attributed to the Bailiff. Tr. Vol. II at 177:15. At yet another point, the State’s closing argument is attributed to the trial court. Tr. Vol. III at 228:1.

Based upon the types of errors reviewed, it appears that generative artificial intelligence may have assisted with the preparation of this transcript. While AI can improve efficiency and be a productive tool for many professionals, it is incumbent upon those using such systems to proofread and ensure the accuracy of the generated product.

Almost certainly, the cited problems are the result of errors committed by a speech-to-text system, which the court reporter used to create a draft transcript and failed to correct.

The language models used in speech recognition, and the classification methods used in diarization ("who said what"), are technically similar to the generative models that modern chatbots use to create text, but they're not really being used generatively in those applications.

The term artificial intelligence has been long since been extended to mean little more than "complex computer program" — and apparently "generative artificial intelligence" is going down the same path. It's rather like using tilling, sowing, fertilizing, weeding, watering, and harvesting interchangeably to cover anything having to do with farming…