Timeline · 2022 → now

How AI reached the law.

Models, laws, court decisions and books, in one line. Scroll to watch it unfold.

ModelLawCourtBook

2022

30 NOV 2022 Model
ChatGPT launches

Generative AI becomes available to every lawyer.

8 MAR 2023 Book
ChatGPT for Lawyers: 101 Practical Prompts

The book that started the series: 101 ready-to-use prompts, written in 2023 for lawyers with no technical background.
14 MAR 2023 Model
GPT-4 released

A step change in reasoning and drafting quality.
1 APR 2023 Book
Legal Implications of AI and Machine Learning

Adam's first book: an overview of the legal issues businesses face when they adopt AI and machine learning.
22 JUN 2023 Court
Mata v. Avianca sanctions (S.D.N.Y.)

Lawyers sanctioned for ChatGPT-fabricated citations.
15 AUG 2023 Law
China's generative AI measures take effect

Among the first binding rules for generative AI services.

4 MAR 2024 Model
Claude 3 family released

Long-context models suited to document-heavy legal work.
1 MAY 2024 Law
Utah AI Policy Act in force

Early US state disclosure law for generative AI.
29 JUL 2024 Law
ABA Formal Opinion 512

The ABA's first formal ethics opinion on lawyers' use of generative AI.
1 AUG 2024 Law
EU AI Act enters into force

The first comprehensive AI law.
12 SEPT 2024 Model
OpenAI o1 reasoning model

Reasoning models arrive.

20 JAN 2025 Model
DeepSeek-R1 released

An open-weight reasoning model shakes up the market.
2 FEB 2025 Law
EU AI Act prohibitions and AI literacy apply

First EU AI Act obligations bite.
2 AUG 2025 Law
EU general-purpose AI obligations apply

Rules for GPAI model providers.
7 AUG 2025 Model
GPT-5 released

Modes, deep research and agents become mainstream.
28 AUG 2025 Book
GPT-5 for Lawyers

How to use GPT-5's modes, deep research and agents for real legal work, without over-trusting the model.
10 OCT 2025 Law
Italy's national AI law in force

First EU member state AI statute.

1 JAN 2026 Law
California SB 53 and Texas TRAIGA in force

Major US state AI laws take effect.
22 JAN 2026 Law
South Korea AI Basic Act in force

Asia's first comprehensive AI framework.
20 MAR 2026 Book
Claude for Lawyers 2026

A professional-grade system for using Anthropic's Claude in legal work, from drafting and long-document review to repeatable workflows.
27 JUL 2026 Law
EU Digital Omnibus on AI in force

High-risk deadlines deferred to 2027 and 2028.
29 SEPT 2026 Law
US executive order: "AI" becomes "SI"

Federal agencies adopt "Super Intelligence".
1 OCT 2026 Book
Super Intelligence (SI) for Lawyers 2026

The working manual for lawyers in the age of "SI": better work with Claude, ChatGPT and legal SI tools, without risking clients, licence or reputation.