Robots Behaving Badly. AI has a wonderful ability to mimic human thought; but, it will never actually compare to human thought. So, while AI will enhance human lawyers' ability to draw conclusions, and measure probabilities, and make arguments, robots will never be able to match human judgment. Human imperfections are what makes us human. Our social, legal and other interactions with other humans is not a scientific equation, or a massing of all human knowledge. In any event, robot lawyers will never grace a courtroom in our lifetimes.
Nuance Dragon Anywhere. Many of us are old enough to remember dictating documents and pleadings into a handheld microphone with a microcassette, and then handing the microcassette to a secretary for transcription. A secretarial work station would have a small tape player on the desk, with a foot pedal for starting and stopping the tape. My secretary would wear a headphone that was plugged into the transcription device, and she would type on an IBM Selectric Typewriter. Ah, the good old days. After microcassettes, we graduated to cable connected systems that sent our dictation straight to the secretary's desk, and then the Internet and the cloud changed everything. These days, for $15 a month, I can dictate anything I want into an app on my Smartphone, and a magical AI in the cloud will turn my meanderings into digital text in the cloud that I can put into letters, pleadings and anything else that I need. I can even create blog posts on the go, and then download and edit the text. Dragon Anywhere and digital dictation has come a long way, baby. Try it yourself. All you need is a Smartphone and the ability to talk.
While AI can enhance a human lawyer's ability to make judgments and do her job better, it is also true that humans will never trust justice or advice coming from an AI. And, solo lawyers will never have to worry about managers asking them to train an AI to do their job. Solos may not make a lot of money; but, we still have a job.
We humans are an arrogant species. We pretend to be humble at times; but, every time we get the opportunity, we tend to anthropomorphize every technological advance. AI is a marvel of computer and technological achievement. We are teaching computers to use their vast data storage capacities for useful purposes. Imagine a lawyer armed with every case report from all time, and the ability to search and analyze the results of that data in an instant? We are doing that now, with cloud based legal research, computer based analysis of Big Data, and advances in decision making by machines. So, why, given all that, do we need to fantasize about putting that tech into a human form? Why do we give such power and ability to a machine that has metal arms and legs, and can carry a weapon? Execupundit highlights this clip from the recent scifi movie, Ex Machina, which postulates an AI robot that kills the human who created her. (Pronoun used descriptively only). I predict that, even with our arrogance, you won't be seeing a robot Perry Mason walking around a courtroom anytime soon. You will, however, see lawyers carrying smartphones and wearing smartglasses and smartwatches, each of which will have the ability to mine millions of data, and make on the spot decisions and analysis of a pending legal problem. We don't need robots to look like us. We need to make ourselves more knowledgeable.
Artificial Intelligence Is Changing The Legal Industry For The Better. The human like robots on WestWorld are not the future. They aren't even the future of law. They are fictional beings who populate a world of magic and mystery. They are not real. The practice of law is grounded in facts, and client relationships, and dispute resolution. Artificial Intelligence can analyze more data, more accurately, and faster than humans can. However, AI can't make human judgments. AI can't do a better job of connecting with humans in a drama of human conduct. Get over it, Hollywood. I have no objection to the glorification of fantasy creatures in order to get viewers or votes. But, we must always remember that the modern courtroom is the same as it has always been, a place for human beings to resolve their differences in a fair setting. Modern law practice requires human emotion, tempered by human rationality. Enjoy the latest episode of the WestWorld fantasy. But, leave your magical thinking at the door. We have real work to do.
Uh, even this graphic is a little outdated. I wear a device on my wrist that has access to all of the cumulative knowledge of mankind, I talk to it, get voice answers, use it to measure my blood oxygen levels, and conduct medical grade ECGs.
It is difficult to be me. Telling the world about the latest evil technology that will take over law practice, and make lawyers obsolete, is not my idea of a good time. And, the fact that my tech futurist bones are telling me that, in the future, Terminator Robots will be roaming the countryside, blowing humans away, is frightening. But, doom and gloom sells, so technologists keep touting the next advance as a necessary progression for the human race and lawyers, specifically. The only problem here is that the natural progression of technology heads to a robot controlled world conclusion. But, don't cry for me, fellow lawyers and citizens. I have a plan to download my consciousness into a robot with an indestructible exoskeleton, and to live forever.
I have written before about my doubts that robotic lawyers will replace lawyers in the future. Person to person contact is important to many attorney-client relationships. Many legal problems have an emotional and human component that can't be duplicated in a robot. Yet. However, I have great confidence that AI will enhance human lawyers' ability to practice law. This is already happening, as search engines, data analysis, and prediction engines are already being used by lawyers. But, what if robots become indistinguishable from humans? What if a human looking robot had the knowledge of every legal principle and every previous case in history? What if these future robots could do our jobs for us? What if the Terminator isn't the only possible future of advanced robotics? Sometimes, I am sad to reach the twilight of a long life. I would like to see if that is a possible future.
(H/T Gyi Tsakalakis) The future of robotics is bright. Combining realistic looking robots with AI technology will spawn a new breed of artificial human. We older humans won't live to see it; but, it is coming, young people. Are you ready?
Lawyer,Poet, author, educator. Practices real property, corporation, wills, trusts and estates law in Pinellas County, Florida. Writes the FutureLawyer column. Gives seminars on technology and the law. Author of "Life is Simple, Really", Poems about Life, Loving, Family and Fun, and "Poems For Lovers".
