AI's Future in Law: Navigating New Terrain
Published Date::19/10/2024
Ari Kaplan interviews John Marshall, CEO, and Dan Quintas, Head of Legal Solutions at Airia, about the challenges and opportunities of AI adoption in law firms.
Ari Kaplan recently spoke with John Marshall, the CEO, and Dan Quintas, the head of legal solutions at Airia, a generative artificial intelligence platform designed for law firms and organizations. The discussion delved into the hurdles firms face in adopting AI, their progress, common mistakes made during deployment, and strategies for keeping up with rapid technological changes.
John Marshall has a 30-year career in enterprise software, focusing on back-end infrastructure solutions for business problems. He co-founded Airia with the vision of providing secure, integrated, and user-friendly AI technology for law firms, drawing from his experiences at AirWatch and OneTrust. Airia aims to address the same infrastructure challenges that mobile device management and enterprise privacy solutions faced, ensuring that AI is accessible and secure for legal professionals.
Dan Quintas, with a background at AirWatch and OneTrust, brings expertise in technology adoption and integration. He noted that the legal sector's AI adoption is driven by document-heavy workflows, which naturally benefit from AI-driven efficiencies, particularly in discovery and contract management.
Hurdles to AI Adoption in Law FirmsJohn Marshall identified the initial challenge as simply getting started. Many firms already use AI indirectly through tools like Microsoft Copilot or integrated AI features in legal tech solutions. However, the primary obstacles are fear and uncertainty about security and governance. Marshall recommends starting with low-risk tasks, such as document comparison or caselaw research, to see the benefits of AI without immediate security concerns.
Progress and Early AdoptionDan Quintas highlighted that there is impressive progress among early innovators in the legal space. Some firms are experimenting with AI to gain a competitive edge, while others use tools like Copilot for specific use cases. However, most firms are still in the early majority phase, seeking high-value applications that can be confidently implemented. Guidance in identifying the best use cases and developing a robust AI strategy is crucial for this group.
Common Mistakes in AI DeploymentWhile not exactly mistakes, John Marshall emphasized the importance of avoiding inaction. Firms should take small, calculated steps to experiment and learn. The legal industry will see rapid AI adoption, and those who embrace it will have a significant advantage. As Marshall often says, you won't lose your job to AI, but you might to a colleague who uses AI.
Keeping Up with Rapid ChangesDan Quintas acknowledged that tracking all AI developments can be overwhelming. Regular updates and new models require businesses to understand how these advancements affect them. The key is to partner with the right tools and platforms, combined with a clear strategy from leadership. Airia aims to make AI accessible and help firms stay ahead of these advancements.
The Future of AI in LegalJohn Marshall envisions a competitive legal industry where AI adoption will be driven by its advantages, from faster processes to more accurate outcomes. The adoption of generative AI will start with simple tasks, such as discovery and caselaw research, but will eventually evolve into more complex workflows. Law firms will likely use a variety of domain-specific and regional AI models, tailored to their needs, leading to an exciting evolution in the legal ecosystem.
To learn more about the future of AI in the legal industry, listen to the complete interview at Reinventing Professionals. Ari Kaplan regularly interviews leaders in the legal and professional services sectors to share insights, highlight transformative changes, and introduce new technologies on his blog and podcast.
FAQS:
Q: What is Airia?
A: Airia is a generative artificial intelligence platform designed for law firms and organizations to help them securely and efficiently adopt AI technology.
Q: What are the main hurdles law firms face in adopting AI?
A: The main hurdles include getting started, fear and uncertainty about security and governance, and the need to identify high-value applications for AI.
Q: What is the current progress of AI adoption in law firms?
A: Early innovators are making impressive progress, using AI for competitive advantages and specific use cases. Most firms are still in the early majority phase, seeking guidance in identifying and implementing high-value applications.
Q: What are common mistakes made in AI deployment?
A: The most common 'mistake' is inaction. Firms should take small, calculated steps to experiment and learn, rather than avoiding AI altogether.
Q: How can law firms keep up with rapid changes in AI?
A: Partnership with the right tools and platforms, combined with a clear strategy from leadership, is key to staying ahead of AI advancements.