Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms are increasingly perceived as revolutionary tools within the legal industry, although the technology’s greatest contribution may not be what most initially expected. For years, advanced technologies like Technology Assisted Review (TAR) were available but underused by many legal professionals who either distrusted them or avoided engaging with them altogether.
A critical assessment was recently made at ILTACON, where experts from DISCO and Redgrave Data noted a significant shift in senior partners’ and associates’ engagement with legal tech. Speaking with the team from DISCO, they revealed that the introduction of their GenAI system, “Cecilia,” had encouraged previously tech-averse senior lawyers and partners to directly interact with technical tools they had long ignored or outsourced. This newfound willingness to engage is largely attributed to the user-friendly interfaces of generative AI applications, according to observations by Dave Lewis, Chief Scientific Officer at Redgrave Data, and Lenora Gray, a data scientist at Redgrave.
The user experience provided by generative AI applications effectively acts as a window to the sophisticated technologies that were previously overlooked. Such advances in user experience could alleviate the ongoing distrust and hesitation surrounding TAR and other similarly advanced tools. This is underscored by the article on Above the Law, which captures the essence of how AI can resurrect interest in existing legal technologies.
In essence, the real innovation lies in the AI’s ability to bridge the gap between legal professionals and the underutilized technology that can enhance their practice. This intersection of improved interface design with existing advanced tech could drive a more profound and widespread adoption of legal technology, offering a fresh perspective on the role of AI in the legal sector.