IT’S TOO IMPORTANT FOR AN ALGORITHM Don’t Let AI Write Your Will
Chatbots have been all the rage in the customer service world for a few years now, but we were still shocked to read about a chatbot that can help you write a will. The bot’s name is Ailira, and it was created by Adrian Cartland, a taxation lawyer from South Australia. While this story may sound like something from one of John’s favorite sci-fi universes, it’s already been used by hundreds of people to make their will easily and on the cheap. Chatbots are just the latest in a series of innovations that allow people to make DIY wills. LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer offer similar services, though they don’t yet have any fancy artificial intelligence (AI) avatars on staff. Computer-generated wills may seem like a convenient option, but they come with a lot of pitfalls. If you aren’t careful, you could leave your will vulnerable to being challenged and invalidated. Each state has its own specific requirements for the creation and execution of a last will and testament. Should your computer-
generated will fail to meet state requirements, the probate court will likely not honor it. Your assets will then be subject to disposition by the court in accordance with the laws of intestacy. Furthermore, chatbot- and computer-created wills lack the legal knowledge of a professional estate planning attorney. Your estate planning attorney will sit down with you and carefully go over your assets, debts, and desires for after your death in order to recommend the best estate planning options. A chatbot or computer program, by comparison, will simply give you the option to make a specific legal form and ask you basic information. As such, your estate could be subject to immense taxation. There’s no denying that technology has made much of our lives easier, but we’d urge caution when considering a digital will provider. You might be comfortable asking Alexa for the weather forecast, but would you ask her to protect your wishes after you’re gone? KIELBASA KABOBS MICHELE’S RECIPE CORNER
take a break
This take on the classic Italian sausage and peppers uses fully cooked Polish kielbasa so you can prep the kabobs and bring them to your next cookout.
• 2 pounds fully cooked smoked kielbasa • 2 large onions • 2 green bell peppers • 3 red bell peppers • 2 cloves garlic, minced INGREDIENTS
• 1/4 cup olive oil • Salt and pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
4. Thread onto skewers, alternating ingredients. 5. Brush with oil mixture and grill, covered, 10–12 minutes. [NOTE: If using bamboo skewers, soak in water for 30 minutes before threading to prevent burning.]
1. Heat grill to medium. 2. In a small bowl, combine oil, garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper. 3. Cut pepper, onion, and kielbasa into 1-inch chunks.
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