Legal Decoder, known for its analytics in high-profile bankruptcy cases, has announced the launch of Aperture, a natural language interface designed for querying legal billing data. This development arrives after Trajectory Capital’s recent control of the company. Aperture promises a streamlined data interaction without disclosing identifiable client information to the language model.
The technology emerged from client feedback seeking alternatives to Tableau-based data delivery. According to CEO David Solomon, clients asked for a more intuitive querying method, essentially requesting, “Is there a way I can just ask a question?” This prompted development of Aperture as an accessible layer atop their existing machine learning engine.
Noteworthy is Aperture’s architecture, which maintains consistency in numerical outputs while serving as a conversational interface. This aims to counteract common variations in AI responses to identical queries.
Data security is central to Aperture, utilizing a tokenization process to anonymize potentially sensitive information. Tokens are session-specific, ensuring recurring changes in data representation, a point emphasized by co-founder Joseph Tiano.
Legal Decoder also positions its offering as auditable, allowing validation of analytical outcomes like block billing percentages. Additionally, Solomon clarifies that Legal Decoder operates alongside existing enterprise legal management platforms, focusing on LEDES data exports for in-depth analysis.
The efficacy of Legal Decoder’s approach is underscored by its endorsement in federal court cases, including those of prominent corporations like PG&E and Toys “R” Us. The company continues to gain accolades, including the Association of Corporate Counsel Value Champion award.
As Legal Decoder introduces Aperture, the legal field anticipates follow-up products like AI Replaceability and an AFA builder. The former aims to model AI impacts on legal tasks, giving firms a forecast on compressible work types. The latter intends to refine fee arrangements, focusing on work complexity over averages.
More information on Aperture and Legal Decoder’s future initiatives can be found here.