Wright Brothers Aero, Inc. B-423326.2
GAO · Jul 7, 2025
What happened in this matter?
The GAO issued a formal warning to the protester after it admitted to citing a non-existent case generated by AI software. The GAO dismissed the underlying protest as untimely and cautioned that future submissions of non-existent authority could lead to the imposition of sanctions.
- Why the court cared
- The GAO reasoned that the protester's reliance on AI-generated citations without verification wastes the time of all parties and the tribunal. It noted that while it has the inherent right to impose sanctions for actions undermining the integrity of the process, it opted to issue a warning rather than sanctions because the protest was already being dismissed on other procedural grounds (untimeliness).
- Why it matters now
- This case highlights the risks of using AI tools for legal research and drafting without human verification. It serves as a clear notice that tribunals expect counsel and pro se litigants to verify the existence and accuracy of all cited authorities.
Why this matter is tracked
In a bid protest before the GAO, the protester, Wright Brothers Aero, Inc., cited a non-existent legal decision to support its argument regarding the timeliness of its filing. When the GAO requested a copy of the cited case, the protester admitted the citation was generated by artificial intelligence software used during the drafting process. The GAO dismissed the protest as untimely on procedural grounds. While the GAO noted its inherent authority to impose sanctions for submissions that undermine the integrity of the protest process, it declined to impose sanctions in this specific instance. However, the GAO issued a formal warning to the protester, advising that future submissions containing non-existent authority may result in sanctions.
This case highlights the risks of using AI tools for legal research and drafting without human verification. It serves as a clear notice that tribunals expect counsel and pro se litigants to verify the existence and accuracy of all cited authorities.
Record details
What the record establishes about AI use
Protester admitted to using AI-based software.
The GAO dismissed the protest as untimely and issued a warning regarding the use of AI-generated citations.
Correction behavior is not separately verified in the current record.
Tracked discrepancy record
1 citation, quotation, or authority issues are recorded in the source dataset.
- Fabricated: Case Law | Protester cited a non-existent GAO decision to support timeliness; when GAO requested a copy, the protester admitted it was AI-generated and not a published decision; GAO cautioned about AI use.
Questions this record answers
- What happened in Wright Brothers Aero, Inc. B-423326.2?
- The GAO issued a formal warning to the protester after it admitted to citing a non-existent case generated by AI software. The GAO dismissed the underlying protest as untimely and cautioned that future submissions of non-existent authority could lead to the imposition of sanctions.
- Why does Wright Brothers Aero, Inc. B-423326.2 matter for legal AI risk?
- This case highlights the risks of using AI tools for legal research and drafting without human verification. It serves as a clear notice that tribunals expect counsel and pro se litigants to verify the existence and accuracy of all cited authorities.
- What does the public record establish about Wright Brothers Aero, Inc. B-423326.2?
- The record summarizes the outcome described in the linked public source. The recorded link is hosted by a court or government source. This page is not a substitute for the complete docket, subsequent history, or jurisdiction-specific advice.
- Which source supports this Wright Brothers Aero, Inc. B-423326.2 summary?
- The recorded source is gao.gov. It is classified as official court or government source; review the linked material and subsequent docket history before relying on this summary.
Related matters
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