DeepSeek and the Seven Dwarf Problems for LegalTech (ft Joe Rayment)
Feb 3, 2025
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Join Joe Rayment, CEO of Automatise, an Australian legal tech expert, as he dives into the buzz around DeepSeek, a revolutionary AI language model. He tackles the dynamic between open-source and proprietary tech, emphasizing the impact on the legal landscape. Rayment discusses the financial and ethical implications of DeepSeek, exploring data ownership and vendor lock-in challenges. He also highlights the geopolitical narratives behind AI advancements and raises awareness of the nuanced risks in machine learning and cybersecurity for legal firms.
DeepSeek's emergence as an open-source alternative to proprietary models highlights a potential shift towards cost-effective and competitive AI solutions for legal tech firms.
The complexities surrounding data privacy and licensing issues with DeepSeek raise significant concerns for law firms about maintaining client confidentiality and navigating intellectual property rights.
Deep dives
Rise of DeepSeek and Open Source Implications
DeepSeek is a new large language model launched as an open-source alternative to proprietary AI systems like OpenAI's models. Created by a Hong Kong hedge fund, it reportedly cost $5.6 million to train and has demonstrated competitive performance while being significantly cheaper to operate. This transition to open-source models raises crucial discussions about the economic viability of proprietary systems, as open-source technology tends to attract developers and businesses. The broader implications for legal tech suggest that firms may benefit from more affordable AI solutions, as competition could drive down costs across the board.
Economic Impacts on Investors and Startups
The development of DeepSeek represents a complex economic landscape for various stakeholders, particularly for venture capitalists and established AI startups. Investors in AI technologies are seeing diminishing returns due to the increasing viability of open-source solutions that allow rapid scaling without significant capital investment. Conversely, startups that utilize models such as DeepSeek can deliver services more affordably and quickly. Therefore, while deep tech companies may suffer, the legal tech sector can thrive by leveraging these more accessible tools.
Data Privacy Considerations and Security Risks
The data privacy dilemma surrounding DeepSeek emphasizes the importance of where and how data is processed, especially for sensitive legal materials. Utilizing DeepSeek via a self-hosted solution can mitigate many security risks, allowing firms to maintain control over their data. However, using hosted or cloud-api services raises concerns about potential backdoors and data privacy, particularly with the company's connections to China. While end-users can find comfort in the open-source nature of DeepSeek, diligence is necessary to protect client confidentiality and ensure compliance with data protection standards.
The Shifting Landscape of Licensing and Ownership
The release of DeepSeek introduces nuanced questions about licensing and data ownership, particularly under the MIT license model that promotes sharing and collaboration. Users need to discern how to attribute credit properly under layer licensing structures, especially when utilizing models derived from various sources. Additionally, concerns over copyright infringement arise, especially if DeepSeek is trained on copyrighted materials. This presents a gray area for individual firms and startups that rely on these models for operational efficiencies while navigating the complexities of intellectual property rights.
DeepSeek has been all the rage among the tech community in January 2025. In this episode, Damien and Horace are joined by special guest Joe Rayment, CEO of Automatise, to explore the implications of DeepSeek.
The discussion covers a range of topics including the geopolitical aspects, build vs buy considerations, licensing and terms of use, cost reduction, data privacy, vendor lock-in, and the skills gap for law firms and legal tech vendors. The conversation delves into the potential impacts, benefits, and challenges that DeepSeek poses for the legal tech industry.
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