ChatGPT makes legal history: Brazilian city Porto Alegre gets law written by AI

The Porto Alegre City Council in Brazil recently passed a unique law concerning water metres, and what makes it truly extraordinary is that it was entirely authored by an artificial intelligence (AI) program known as ChatGPT.

According to a Washington Post investigation, on 23 November 2023, the measure became operative after being passed by multiple council committees. However, six days later, the legislation's proponent, Councilman Ramiro Rosario, revealed that the bill was not the result of policy discussions and brainstorming sessions. Instead, it was written entirely by ChatGPT.

A primeira lei brasileira feita exclusivamente por inteligência artificial está vigente em Porto Alegre!

Ela não tem nada de ideológica. Ao contrário, é bem comum. Ela impede a cobrança pela prefeitura de hidrômetros furtados. Aliás, passaria despercebida se eu não contasse.…

— Ramiro Rosário (@curtaramiro) November 29, 2023

Councilman Ramiro Rosario, the sponsor of the bill, revealed that the AI-driven process took a mere 15 seconds for a task that would typically demand three days of human effort. He emphasised that this exemplifies how artificial intelligence can serve as a practical tool to enhance and optimise public service.

"No one will be replaced by AI , but we could all be replaced by those who know how to use artificial intelligence. So we have to prepare ourselves for this path."

Councilman Ramiro Rosario, the sponsor of the bill

Innovative solutions to a persistent issue

Rosario disclosed that he input a concise command into ChatGPT to create a municipal law for Porto Alegre. The law prohibits the Municipal Water and Sewage Department from charging property owners for a new water metre in case of theft.

The AI-generated suggestions astonished Rosario, offering creative solutions to a problem that had troubled the city's residents for months. The proposed law included a 30-day deadline for the city to replace stolen water metres, coupled with a clause that waived water bills if the replacement deadline was missed.

Alignment with principles

Speaking on the efficiency of AI, Rosario shared, "If I had followed the usual process, it would've taken days to sit down with my team and legal sources. But in a fraction of that time, AI looked into the best references regarding good practice in drafting bills inside and outside the country on its database."

He highlighted the unparalleled nature of this AI-drafted bill, which not only expedited the process but also aligned with the principles and values of his mandate.

"This was an unprecedented process of an AI-drafted bill that brought in suggestions that were in line with the principles and values of my mandate—I knew I had to sign it," he emphasised.

Mixed reactions from council members

Following the passage of the law, Councilman Rosario took to social media, proudly declaring, "The first Brazilian law made exclusively by artificial intelligence is in effect in Porto Alegre!"

While some council members were fascinated by this innovative approach, Council President Hamilton Sossmeier initially expressed concerns about setting a "dangerous precedent." However, he later revised his stance, recognizing that the use of AI is likely to become a trend in legislation.

As Porto Alegre pioneers the use of AI in crafting laws, it sparks a conversation about the role of technology in shaping the future of governance.