“We’ve seen remarkable benefits in our legal practice from using AI, notably reducing costs and time. Technologies like active learning allow us to be more precise in our reviews, efficiently getting to the factual evidence and improving the quality of our legal services,” Chris Acosta told us while looking back at his team’s success with AI so far.
Today, Chris—Director of eDiscovery Resources at Morrison Foerster and a 2024 AI Visionary—is exploring next-generation artificial intelligence tech, including generative LLMs like Relativity aiR.
One key to encouraging your organization to take AI more seriously? Embrace experimentation. Now is the perfect time to do so, as interest in AI has skyrocketed over the last year and curiosity is high.
“AI’s rapid rise in popularity is fascinating to watch and marks a significant change in its acceptance and understanding. AI interaction has finally come into the mainstream, with a newfound appreciation of its potential,” Chris told us. “This transition symbolizes a broader societal acknowledgment of AI’s vast capabilities and its transformative impact on various industries, fostering innovations that were once thought impossible to the non-technologist.”
Though its impact on the legal world promises to be quite transformative, it’s important for tech-forward professionals who are eager to let AI loose on their most complex projects to remember that transformation takes time and intentionality. Acknowledging and working through colleagues’ and clients’ hesitation should be the first step on that path forward.
Confronting Skepticism with Grace
“Understanding the distinction between being risk-averse and ignoring AI’s practical uses and benefits is crucial for organizations that are hesitant about AI,” Chris told us.
Risk aversity is inherent to the practice of law—and for good reason. The best possible representation for one’s clients, and the highest level of protection of any privileged or proprietary information, comes first. That doesn’t mean a change in process is impossible—but it does mean it must be presented respectfully, and with room to pivot based on the particular questions or concerns surrounding each case.
“I advise starting with pilot projects to demonstrate AI’s value in a controlled environment or passive situations, gradually building confidence in AI solutions, and integrating them more broadly into their operations,” Chris shared. “This approach allows organizations to gradually build trust in AI solutions and integrate them more comprehensively into their operations.”
There are many ways to gradually increase the level of impact you can have with your AI experiments, as well as the confidence your team and customers feel when they see the results.
Incorporating AI can begin with something as simple as bringing up ChatGPT during a brainstorming session to see how it can help guide your conversation with colleagues and enhance everyone’s creative thinking with practical suggestions and reasoned considerations. This type of low-stakes but high-productivity task is perfect for many chatbots of this kind, and can help show the skeptics in your circle just how additive AI can be to the work you’re already doing.
From there, gradually moving into legal-specific applications can feel like a natural evolution as your team wraps their arms around the types of technology available, how it should be used, and where it can help improve outcomes for your particular organization.
And once you get there, a ton of excitement and big benefits will be waiting for everyone.
“I’m excited about the future applications of large language models, like Relativity aiR, in the legal sector. These technologies have the potential to dramatically alter workflows, decision-making processes, and strategic planning, offering new levels of efficiency and insight,” Chris explained. “The integration of these models into everyday legal practices promises to make a profound impact on efficiency and effectiveness.”
Staying Grounded in Your Human Instincts
You might’ve noticed that none of Chris’s—or his fellow AI Visionaries’, for that matter—recommendations and advice include the suggestion that AI is a set-it-and-forget-it easy button that can simply be deployed at will.
It’s simply not that simple, and they all agree that believing otherwise would be foolish at best and dangerous at worst.
“The need for experience and expertise to properly harness AI is crucial. There’s a delicate balance between leveraging AI’s capabilities and ensuring responsible use,” Chris said. “The true potential lies in the symbiosis between AI and human expertise, as it provides the practical and responsible use of technology.”
As is always the case in the pursuit of innovation and betterment, careful discernment and compassionate collaboration should be at the forefront of one’s mind when embarking on a journey with AI.
“Your emotional intelligence is probably the biggest thing; being emotionally intelligent and having empathy in the type of work you do helps to solidify a lot of relationships that you have with people you work with. Be inclusive, be thoughtful, and fail fast.”
Sam Bock is a member of the marketing team at Relativity, and serves as editor of The Relativity Blog.
