"A new service called Objector is offering policy-backed objections in minutes to people who are upset about planning applications near their homes. It uses generative AI to scan planning applications and check for grounds for objection, ranking these as high, medium or low impact. It then automatically creates objection letters, AI-written speeches to deliver to the planning committees, and even AI-generated videos to influence councillors."
"Kent residents Hannah and Paul George designed the system after estimating they spent hundreds of hours attempting to navigate the planning process when they opposed plans to convert a building near their home into a mosque. For 45-a-time, they are offering the tool to people who, like them, could not afford a specialist lawyer to help navigate labyrinthine planning laws. They said it would help everyone have a voice, to level the playing field and make the whole process fairer."
"One leading planning lawyer warned such AIs could supercharge nimbyism and if they became widely used could cause the planning system to grind to a halt, with planning officials potentially deluged with submissions. Sebastian Charles said his firm, Aardvark Planning Law, had seen AI-generated objections to planning applications that included references to previous cases and appeal decisions that, when checked by a human lawyer, did not exist. The danger is decisions are made on the wrong basis, he said."
Objector offers policy-backed objections in minutes by using generative AI to scan planning applications, identify grounds for objection, and rank those grounds as high, medium, or low impact. The system automatically creates objection letters, AI-written speeches for planning committees, and AI-generated videos designed to influence councillors. Kent residents Hannah and Paul George developed the tool after estimating they spent hundreds of hours navigating the planning process while opposing a proposed mosque conversion, and they offer access for 45-a-time to people unable to afford specialist planning lawyers. Similar services and campaigners promote AI-crafted objections, while planning lawyers warn of fabricated legal references and the risk of overwhelming planning systems.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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