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As a Notary, I’m Not Scared of AI—But Here’s Why You Should Care

Let me paint you a scene. Last week, an older man walked into my office to notarize his will. His hands shook as he handed me the document. He asked, quietly, if I could explain a clause about his estranged son. We talked for 20 minutes. By the end, he wasn’t just signing papers but making peace.

This is what my job actually is. Not stamps, not signatures, but being a human anchor in moments that matter. With AI creeping into every corner of life, people keep asking: “Will robots replace you?”

My answer? Let’s dig in.

AI’s Strengths: Why Even I’m Impressed

I’ll admit—AI could handle parts of my work better than I do. Here’s where it shines:

  1. Instant, Anywhere Access
    Need a document notarized at 3 a.m.? AI doesn’t sleep. Remote services could let someone in a rural village or a busy parent at home get things done without hunting down a human like me.
  2. Flawless Record-Keeping
    Let’s face it—my journal is a mess of handwritten entries. An AI system could log every detail immutably, searchable in seconds. No coffee stains, no lost pages.
  3. Spotting Fakes
    AI can analyze IDs, signatures, and document patterns with terrifying precision. It might catch a forged passport I’d miss on a hectic Monday morning.

If efficiency were the only goal, I’d already be obsolete.

Why AI Can’t Do What I Do (And Why That Matters)

But here’s the truth: notarization isn’t about efficiency. It’s about integrity. And that’s where machines fall short.

  1. Reading Between the Lines
    Last month, a woman came in to sign a power of attorney for her “husband.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. I asked her to step into the hall, where she confessed he’d threatened her. AI would’ve processed the paperwork. I stopped a crime.
  2. The Weight of the Moment
    Wills, adoptions, divorce papers—these aren’t transactions. They’re emotional turning points. People cry. They panic. They need someone to say, “Breathe. Let’s go through this slowly.” An AI can’t offer humanity—it can only offer speed.
  3. Accountability Has a Face
    If an AI makes a mistake, who takes the blame? The coder? The user? The cloud? As a notary, my bond insurance and commission number tie me directly to every document I stamp. That accountability isn’t bureaucracy—it’s what makes the system trustworthy.

The Real Risk: Eroding Trust, Not Jobs

My fear isn’t that AI will replace me. It’s that we’ll let it chip away at the meaning of notarization. If we reduce this role to a checkbox—a robotic stamp—we lose the essence of why societies created notaries in the first place: to have a neutral, ethical human bear witness.

Imagine a world where your mortgage is “notarized” by an algorithm you’ll never meet. Would you feel secure? Or would it feel like trusting a vending machine with your life savings?

A Better Path: Let AI Handle the Mundane, Not the Meaningful

I’m not a Luddite. Here’s how AI could make my job better:

  • Automate the Admin: Let AI verify IDs upfront, organize my journal, or flag suspicious documents.
  • Free Me for People Work: Give me more time to counsel nervous first-time homebuyers or double-check high-risk agreements.
  • Hybrid Solutions: Use AI for routine paperwork (think rental agreements), but keep humans for wills, estates, and sensitive contracts.

This isn’t a fantasy—it’s already happening quietly. But it only works if we protect the human core of the role.

To My Fellow Notaries: This Is Our Moment

We can’t pretend AI isn’t coming. But we can shape how it’s used. Here’s my call to action:

  • Own Our Value: Stop calling ourselves “stampers.” We’re guardians of trust.
  • Push for Smart Laws: Advocate for regulations that require human oversight for high-stakes documents.
  • Upgrade Our Skills: Learn to use AI tools, not fear them. The future belongs to notaries who blend tech savvy with irreplaceable human judgment.

What Do You Think?

I’ll leave you with this: Last year, a client told me, “You’re the only person who looked me in the eye while I signed away my mother’s house.”

So I’m asking you—all of you:

  • Clients: Would you trade that human assurance for AI convenience?
  • Notaries: Have you had a moment where only a human could’ve done the job?
  • Tech Enthusiasts: Can we build AI that enhances trust without eroding it?

Sound off below. Let’s debate—no algorithms allowed.