May 2025, Part 1, Top 5 Takeaways:
1. Panelists discussed practical applications of AI in legal practice, including its use in depositions and handling administrative tasks.
- Example: Geo Bellas shared how AI tools helped him during depositions by providing real-time information.
2. AI's utility and reliability were debated, particularly in legal research and technical documentation.
- Example: Ben Schorr highlighted issues like AI producing outdated or incorrect technical steps and the necessity for users to verify information.
3. A significant concern was AI hallucinations—instances where AI fabricates or misrepresents information, such as citing non-existent legal cases.
- Example: Dennis Kennedy and Carolyn Elefant noted the prevalence and potential reasons why lawyers might encounter hallucinated information and emphasized the importance of verification.
4. There was a discussion on the evolving use of voice interactions with AI tools, which might be more intuitive for a new generation of users.
- Example: Mathew Kerbis described using interactive modes in AI tools for data extraction and summarized audio content.
5. The importance of validating AI-generated information was underscored, especially for legal professionals.
- Example: Geo Bellas and Carolyn Elefant mentioned using tools like Westlaw to verify citations and how failing to do so could result in essential errors.
