At the recent South by Southwest event in Austin, legal experts convened to deliberate on the ramifications and potential of artificial intelligence within business and legal sectors. AI continues to disrupt traditional practices, posing both opportunities and challenges, as noted by global AI expert, Kay Firth-Butterfield. She emphasized the necessity for companies to proactively self-regulate AI to mitigate its inherent risks.
The panel highlighted issues like “shadow AI” – unauthorized use of consumer AI tools by employees – and the emerging concept of “agentic AI,” which generates new governance questions, according to Karen Silverman, CEO of The Cantellus Group. AI’s impact on workforce trust levels was also evident, with recent surveys indicating a decline in confidence regarding AI’s responsible use in workplaces.
The discussion revealed a consensus on the need for integrating AI thoughtfully, with appropriate oversight and validation by human professionals, as underscored by Deborah L. Cordova of Walsh McGurk Cordova Nixon. Furthermore, AI holds promise in enhancing legal service efficiency and access, particularly benefiting underserved communities.