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Feb. 20, 2026

Consumer AI tools put confidentiality at risk

The use of consumer generative artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT and Claude may not be protected by attorney-client privilege or the work-product doctrine.

Marc D. Alexander

Attorney and Mediator
Alternative Resolution Centers (ARC)

Email: alexanderdisputeresolution@gmail.com

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Consumer AI tools put confidentiality at risk
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On Feb. 10, 2026, Federal District Judge Jed Rakoff of the Southern District of New York ruled from the bench in United States v. Heppner, No. 25-cr-00503-JSR (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 10, 2026), that documents created by a client using a consumer-plan generative artificial intelligence tool, which the client later sent to his attorney, were not protected by the att...

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