Therapy and companionship have become the number-one use case for generative artificial intelligence chatbots in 2025. Talking to artificial intelligence (“AI”) “companions”—digital personas designed to provide emotional support, show empathy, and proactively ask users personal questions through text, voice notes, and picture—is no longer a niche service but has become mainstream, with users numbering in …

PDF: https://journals.law.unc.edu/ncjolt/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/11/Volume-27-Issue-2-Cover-Combined112525.pdf

Bad faith actors have long used intimate imagery to inflict pain and smear the reputations of the vulnerable and famous alike. In recent years, new technologies have developed that enable the creation of more of this content, often requiring only a simple image of the victim’s face. The TAKE IT DOWN Act represents a monumental …

The robo-will software industry’s market penetration into the world of estate planning has changed how lawyers do their job. An industry taking on a profession—and transforming what traditionally was a service into a product—challenges the lofty ideals of advocacy and professionalism. Meanwhile, lawmakers have taken a largely permissive approach. This Note confronts the robo-will software …

The digital age is dangerous. Among those most at risk are child content creators, who often face financial exploitation by the hands of a parent or guardian. Although California’s recent amendments to the Coogan framework—legislation designed to protect the earnings of minors in the entertainment industry—mark a meaningful step towards protecting children, the state legislature …

Across the United States, lawmakers are turning to age restrictions and verification mandates as a catchall solution for online risks to children. However, these laws raise concerns in the legal landscape and beyond, not the least of which are First Amendment constitutional issues. This Note critiques mandatory age gate policies and projects future applications in …

In an age marked by the juxtaposition of democracy and authoritarianism, artificial intelligence (“AI”) presents a new challenge for the democratic rule of law. In 2023, Chief Justice John Roberts predicted that AI would significantly impact the judiciary, especially at the trial level. Only two years later, AI has already risen as a significant player …

What does it mean for an attorney to use generative AI (“GAI”) competently? How much does the attorney need to know about the technology to ethically utilize it? Are there certain tasks for which using GAI is inappropriate? This Article explores recent guidance by the American Bar Association and state bar associations regarding attorneys’ ethical …

The increasing frequency of artificial intelligence (“AI”) facilitated cybercrime and ransomware attacks is challenging the effectiveness of current cybercrime laws. In this vexed legal and technological context, the objective of this Article is to develop a new theoretical model for evaluating and guiding the design of cybercrime legislation to address these new and emerging threats. …