It is no secret that the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming several industries - including the legal sector. Using AI, lawyers and legal departments can be able to handle all sorts of tasks from standard tasks to assisting with complicated legal analyses, which allows them to be more effective, efficient, accurate, and innovative in their work. It is important for enterprises, particularly legal and compliance professionals, to be aware of the potential concerns that can arise as they evaluate how to use these new tools.
The role of a legal executive in examining the use of Generative AI consists primarily of making informed recommendations and acting as a resource in educating stakeholders (e.g., business leaders, peer executives, the board, and others) on the risks associated with the use of Generative AI for business purposes. The application of Generative Artificial Intelligence and its implications in terms of the risk of its implementation is therefore very important for this purpose.
The introduction of generative artificial intelligence in the legal sector marks a turning point in the steps taken to conduct legal proceedings, create legal documents, and provide legal advice to those who need it. Using artificial intelligence technologies for legal applications has the potential to fundamentally change the legal industry in many ways, from increasing the efficiency and speed of the legal process to ensuring that legal information is more accessible and comprehensible to those in need of it.
The legal system is being impacted by this change in an array of aspects, from legal advice to assuring that lawyers have the right skills and ensuring operations run smoothly.
As a result, it's now possible for people to research and follow through countless legal databases, statutes, and case laws in just minutes and hours. Making decisions becomes quicker and easier now that an individual can access the relevant case precedents, understand the jargon used in decisions, and perform many other tasks quickly and efficiently. This will ensure that no time is wasted during the decision-making process.
In the simplest terms, artificial intelligence envelops all of the processes and methods that allow a machine to behave in a way that would be considered intelligent if a human being behaved similarly. Using artificial intelligence to provide legal advice will enable lawyers to provide their clients with a more accurate and swifter legal service than ever before. In a fraction of a second, artificial intelligence can analyze legal documents and search for case precedents and law articles that are relevant to the case at hand.
Lawyers need to keep up to date with the new technologies and adapt their skills accordingly to stay competitive. They need to learn how to use artificial intelligence tools and evaluate the results critically.
Besides enhancing the ability of machine learning, AI is also getting better at improving its performance by itself (self-improvement). The Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) revolution has the potential to disrupt all industries, but it is increasingly important that executives and business leaders start to pay more attention to it.
With GenAI, boosting large language models (LLMs) and generative image models, it is possible to reinvent workflows, transform tedious and time-consuming manual duties such as those in the judicial and educational sectors, and even generate new revenue streams from the very beginning. In the year 2023, artificial intelligence will become a key player in mainstream discussions about technology, as opposed to what it was before high-flying, complicated concept that only a handful of experts and academicians were aware of.
It has been less than a year since long-term learning models became public, and this has been a race to dominate GenAI among both big tech and startups alike.
Artificial intelligence has a lot of benefits in the legal sector, one of them being the ease with which complicated structured content can be prepared. The use of AI systems can provide non-lawyers with a means of analyzing complex legal information and presenting it in a way that can be understood by them.
Further, it is better to integrate AI tools into human-to-human communication by using natural language, which allows intuitive interaction with them, therefore lowering the barrier to their effective use in a considerable way. Introducing generative Artificial Intelligence systems into a legal sector has a lot of implications that require a great deal of care and attention. This is a very important point, as it is necessary to take into account the following factors to satisfy professional and legal requirements. The AI models run on the firm's IT infrastructure and have been developed to meet all privacy regulations and professional legal requirements so they will be hosted by KPMG's global security standards.
Additionally, the models must be compliant with all malpractice liability regulations and data protection requirements. These systems are designed to ensure that client information remains confidential and that the integrity of the data is preserved at all times, which is essential for the integrity of the system to work. A large part of this strategy consists of making sure that all data that is generated by AI is processed and stored in secure environments, to ensure the highest level of security and disclosure.
Human beings must be involved in the loop when it comes to automated decision-making so that AI systems can never make fully automated decisions in the legal sector. A qualified lawyer must be involved as part of the professional due diligence process to verify, validate, and, ultimately, confirm the propositions and results that are generated by artificial intelligence.
Ensuring that all legal judgments and decisions adhere to professional ethical standards and allowing for clear accountability is essential in any legal system.
The incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the legal field brings forth several challenges that must be navigated with caution and insight. A primary concern is the reliability of AI tools, which rely on foundational models or pre-determined datasets. These tools require ongoing updates to prevent the use of outdated or inaccurate data, as reliance on such information could result in compromised legal outcomes.
Data security is another critical issue. Legal proceedings often involve sensitive and confidential information, necessitating rigorous protection of the data processed by AI systems.
It is vital to ensure that this information remains secure and is not mishandled or exposed, as breaches could have serious repercussions for both privacy and the integrity of the legal process.
The issue of absoluteness also poses a significant challenge when considering AI’s role in law. An over-dependence on AI could potentially undermine a lawyer’s ability to exercise sound judgment and uphold ethical standards. While AI operates within strict boundaries, processing data in binary terms of right and wrong, the practice of law often requires navigating complex situations where nuances are critical.
Therefore, AI should be used to support, rather than replace, human judgment in legal proceedings.
Moreover, the challenges of bias and fairness in AI systems must be carefully managed. AI algorithms can unintentionally perpetuate biases present in their training data, leading to potentially unfair or discriminatory outcomes. Ensuring fairness in AI-driven legal processes requires diligent attention to data selection, algorithm design, and ongoing monitoring to identify and address any biases that may arise. It is crucial to address these challenges to integrate AI into the legal system in a manner that promotes justice and equity.
The use of AI across various aspects of the legal profession, including research, analytics, due diligence, compliance, and contract management, underscores its growing influence and lasting impact on modern society. Yet, no matter how sophisticated AI becomes, it cannot replicate the "human factor" that is central to legal practice. Skills such as quick thinking, adaptability, and improvisation are inherently human and cannot be fully encoded into a machine. While AI can offer guidance, the ultimate responsibility for decisions and actions remains with human professionals.
For legal information to be effective in the AI era, it must be well-organized and rich in context.
Currently, it remains challenging to fully explain the reasoning behind AI-generated outcomes. Nevertheless, AI plays an important role in assisting individuals, litigants, and judges in managing and organizing extensive legal data. As the repository of legal knowledge continues to grow, AI systems will increasingly provide valuable advice and recommendations, enhancing the decision-making capabilities of legal professionals.
Successful integration of AI into the judiciary requires that judges gain a deep understanding of how these technologies operate. Additionally, courts must undertake the significant task of digitalizing their records and ensuring that they are accompanied by clear legal interpretations, making them more accessible and useful for AI systems. This digital transformation is an ongoing process that requires constant oversight and adjustment to maintain effectiveness. For courts, traditionally structured as production-oriented entities, this shift represents a substantial new challenge.
