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Getting AI ready

18 May 2018 / Jan Hoffmeister
Issue: 7793 / Categories: Features , Profession , Technology
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Jan Hoffmeister on how advances in artificial intelligence can benefit the legal profession

This year has seen a sharp rise in the world’s interest in artificial intelligence (AI), making it increasingly difficult for the legal sector to ignore the potential disruption it could undergo because of this new phenomenon. Although there are many ways of defining the new technology, AI in its simplest form is the ‘the development of technological systems able to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence’.

Despite operating in a traditionally conservative sector that many consider to be averse to emerging technologies, several law firms have begun bracing themselves for change resulting from AI rather than risk being left behind. Dentons is more than just a global firm with an ever-expanding presence. It is also highly innovative. With the launch of Nextlaw Labs in 2015, considerable investment has been made in several new technologies, including start-up ROSS Intelligence.

The software, which comes in the form of an app and is powered by IBM Watson, uses natural language processing (NLP)

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Sports, education and charities practice welcomes senior associate

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Partner and head of commercial litigation joins in Chelmsford

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Firm strengthens Glasgow corporate practice with partner hire

NEWS
One in five in-house lawyers suffer ‘high’ or ‘severe’ work-related stress, according to a report by global legal body, the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
The Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO’s) plea for a budget increase has been rejected by the Law Society and accepted only ‘with reluctance’ by conveyancers
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
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