02/07/25: Women + AI summit, our experiments with OpenAI Deep Research, and more
Feb 13, 2025
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In this engaging discussion, Stephanie Wilkins shares insights from the Women + AI Summit, emphasizing community empowerment in legal tech. Niki Black highlights the shifting landscape of access to justice amid funding freezes and crowdfunding initiatives. Joe Patrice cautions against neglecting citation checks when using AI tools like ChatGPT. Stephen Embry explores Microsoft and OpenAI's recent product rollouts, pondering their impact on court systems. Together, the panelists navigate the ethical implications and innovative potential of AI in law.
The Women + AI Summit emphasized the importance of collaboration among women in technology and law to challenge negative media narratives.
The podcast discussed the ethical considerations around funding legal aid initiatives, highlighting the necessity for innovative funding sources in access to justice.
OpenAI's deep research tools offer promising enhancements to legal research but underscore the critical need for human oversight to ensure accuracy.
Deep dives
Women Plus AI Summit Highlights
The Women Plus AI Summit at Vanderbilt showcased the power of collaboration among women in technology and law. Launched within two months from an initial idea, the conference attracted a diverse group of participants from various industries, reinforcing the urgent need for such a platform. The event featured insightful talks, including one focusing on the bleak media narratives surrounding women's advancement in AI, spurring a motivational atmosphere for attendees. Breakout sessions and ACE talks encouraged personal storytelling, fostering empowerment and community building among women in technology.
Ethics and GoFundMe in Legal Aid
An ethics opinion explored whether a nonprofit legal organization could initiate a GoFundMe campaign to help a defendant reintegrate after incarceration. This inquiry emerged amid funding cuts to federal agencies, shedding light on the pressing need for alternative funding sources in legal aid. The opinion’s consideration reflects a broader discussion on access to justice and the implications of financial strain on legal services for low-income individuals. It highlights the importance of innovative strategies to support those navigating legal challenges, especially in underfunded legal contexts.
AI’s Role in Law and Document Review
The introduction of OpenAI's new deep research tool presented an innovative method for conducting legal research and drafting documents. Early experiments demonstrated its ability to create extensive legal memorandums without user direction, showcasing the potential to enhance efficiency in legal tasks. However, concerns remain about the accuracy of AI-generated content, emphasizing the importance of human oversight in the legal profession. This technology could represent a significant shift in how legal research is conducted, though challenges such as reliance on open-source information still exist.
Judicial Adoption of AI Technology
Judge Schlegel discussed the potential for AI tools to assist judges in their daily functions, referencing how cloud adoption has become commonplace in the judiciary. With AI capable of streamlining tasks like document review and calendar management, it may enhance judicial efficiency. This transition could also promote transparency in legal proceedings by holding lawyers accountable for their citations and arguments. The evolving landscape hints at a future where AI integration becomes standard practice in courts, improving accessibility and efficiency in the judicial system.
Challenges in Post-Acquisition Integration
A recent LinkedIn post from a disgruntled founder highlighted the emotional complexities of selling a company and the subsequent integration challenges. After the acquisition of his CRM company by Latera, he expressed regret over losing control and observing a shift in company direction that contradicts his original vision. This situation reflects a broader phenomenon in the tech industry, where founders frequently grapple with their identity post-acquisition. Discussions around managing expectations and the differing priorities between founders and acquirers are crucial for future company integrations.
Each week, the leading journalists in legal tech choose their top stories of the week to discuss with our other panelists.
This week's topics:
00:00 Panelist Introductions
03:20 Women + AI Vanderbilt Summit (Selected by Stephanie Wilkins)
21:50 Funding Freezes, Crowdfunding, And Legal Tech: The Ever-Changing Access-To-Justice Landscape (Selected by Niki Black)
27:10 Three stories on experiment with OpenAI's Deep Research for performing deep research (Selected by Bob Ambrogi)
36:40 Please, Please Stop Using ChatGPT If You’re Not Checking Cites (Selected by Joe Patrice)
48:17 Recent product roll outs from Microsoft and OpenAI may provide courts with viable and secure Gen AI options. Are litigants ready for it? (Selected by Stephen Embry)
53:30 Hard lessons on selling your company (Selected by Caroline Hill)
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