Last week, I attended a networking event where I had the opportunity to converse with some attorneys regarding the utilization of generative AI in law firms. Some of the attorneys I spoke with informed me that their firms have banned the use of ChatGPT and generative AI altogether. I was very surprised to hear this, as I had assumed that firms would start embracing the numerous benefits that generative AI technology can offer. It was unexpected to learn that many firms believe the risks outweigh the rewards when it comes to utilizing generative AI.
I am curious to know whether these bans are limited to research and brief writing or if firms are banning their use in general. I can understand the hesitation in using generative AI for briefs, given the various cases reported in the media where attorneys have submitted documents to the court containing fictitious case names generated by ChatGPT. Even if a firm prohibits the use of ChatGPT for research and writing due to these potential risks, generative AI can still be incredibly beneficial if employed for other purposes within the firm, such as contract review and automating daily operations.
As new generative AI software designed for use in law firms emerges, I wonder how long it will take for these firms to lift the bans and embrace the use of this technology. I believe there is a lot of fear within the legal community regarding the use of generative AI, but ultimately, I think it will bring about significant benefits and transform the way many things are done in the legal industry.
Hi Ariel,
ReplyDeleteI think it’s interesting that law firms are banning generative AI. Perhaps this is because there is fear that the legal profession will largely become extinct if the use of AI continues. I don’t think there is anything wrong with using generative AI in the legal profession as long as a human reviews it before submitting it. There are especially problems with ChatGPT since it pulls its information from all over the Internet, giving rise to false information being submitted. I know a few attorneys whose law firms have access to Westlaw’s AI feature, and they are using it for basic research and really enjoy it. This shows how different law firms have different cultures.
Hello Ariel,
ReplyDeleteI also didn't know that firms were banning the use of generative AI. It will be really interesting to see the different approaches by firms play out in real time, and as you said, to see whether the bans will hold up. If genAI turns out to be a major advantage, I imagine the firms banning it will change their approach pretty quickly.
It seems like a knee-jerk response to completely ban a piece of technology - a ban that comes from fear and likely a lack of education on what the tool can do. Although I would not personally use it for brief writing, these tools have more capabilities than just that.
ReplyDeleteIf confidentiality is a concern, firms can pay for their own license to prevent the information from being used outside of that particular model. Firms could quickly upload contracts and write a prompt asking the AI to provide a summary of the contents, compare the sections, and even scan it for compliance with specific laws.