NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — The director of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference says artificial intelligence is being used in DA’s offices across Tennessee as they work to be more efficient tackling large caseloads.

Director Stephen Crump tells the state Finance, Ways, and Means Committee that AI is being used:

-In his office in an executive assistant-related manner

-AI used for legal research

-AI used for trial work and trial prep “across the state.”

FOX17 News’ Johnny Maffei asked the conference for an “explanation to Tennesseans worried they might not get justice if technology is handling those parts of the caseload?”

A spokesperson got back to Maffei saying “AI does not handle any cases in any capacity. All cases are handled by a District Attorney and technology does not and can not replace that human responsibility. The tools Director Crump spoke about during the committee hearing are administrative and research / support systems only. They are designed to improve efficiency, not to make legal decisions.”

Crump says efficiency is crucial because “the most dangerous thing to liberty and to the innocent person is an overworked assistant DA. When the system reaches the point that an assistant DA cannot accurately or adequately spend time in a file, it is the innocent and it is the victim that suffers.”

Crump adds Tennessee is short 75 assistant DA’s, which he requested room to fill in this year’s budget.