Futurelawyer

Disney Isn't Mickey Mouse Anymore.

Here's some Monday morning creepiness for you. Disney is getting so good at animatronics that it can mimic human eye movement and head movement and react to human interaction. Combined with advances in AI, there will come a time when we can't tell the difference between AI robots and humans. What exactly is consciousness anyway? Have a pleasant Monday. (Cue the Twilight Zone theme).

An Automatic House Cleaning Robot? I Don't Need One.

Robots Use AI To Learn To Clean Your House. I would love to learn about the tech behind the Automatic House Robot. But, since I have Diane, I don't need one. She loves to keep the house clean and nice. I am a lucky slob.

Virtual Libraries Are The Future Of Books

Library Virtual Reality Program. Just as the Internet caused legal research on CDs to have a short life, so also will law libraries make a transition for books on paper, to CDs, to the Internet, to Virtual Reality. Even now, libraries all over the world are investing in the educational benefits that virtual reality can bring. As VR headsets get smaller and lighter, the time will come when you will have access to all the world's books just by putting a pair of VR glasses on. Imagine wandering through a virtual world of books, and being able, at any time, to stop and speak with a virtual librarian equipped to call forward anything from the human knowledge bank. Call it the democratization of knowledge. We will no longer be limited by our physical disabilites. Our world is becoming less limited by our physical limitations, as we create technology that our brains can navigate; albeit, for the time being, using headsets, and ear buds, and glasses to enhance human senses. It really is a brave new world.

What Do You Do With An AI Robot That Doesn't Get Informed Consent From A Patient?

Artificial Intelligence And Informed Consent. It is a bedrock legal principle. Patients are entitled to be informed about prospective medical treatment, and consent to procedures must be informed. But, all too often, the consent process is given short shrift, even with human doctors and patients. A patient is lucky to have a nurse deliver the paperwork on a clipboard. Of course, it wasn't like I was going to refuse to consent to the triple bypass I was told that I needed. After a heart attack, you will be scared enough to agree to just about anything. I did notice that my odds were 98% in favor of survival; so, I wasn't too worried. But, as AI becomes a more important part of clinical decision making, will the hospital robots deliver the paperwork, and answer questions about the treatment? Whom do you sue, when the informed part of consent comes from a computer? I know, it is the human actors' responsibility ultimately; but, human nature being what it is, what Doctor is going to disagree with an AI? We ascribe limitless knowledge to our computer friends.

Have A Real Conversation With Marcus Aurelius? Yes, Please.

New AI Project Captures Jane Austen's Thoughts On Social Media. Artificial Intelligence, the term we love to hate, has its benefits. While not true intelligence, machines capable of learning are becoming better and better at creating human like interactions by using complex algorithms to capture the essence of human reasoning. A new project takes the accumulated writings of historical figures and permits conversations based upon those writings. I would pay for the ability to converse with my Stoic mentors, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus and Seneca. Whom would you choose to converse with? May I live so long.

"Hi Galaxy"! "Sorry, I Can't Hear You".

Samsung Shuts Down S Voice. I have owned, and used, Samsung phones and smartwatches for over 10 years. And, I have never asked S voice a question. The software was there; but, Voice Assistant from Google, and Alexa from Amazon, were my go to answer machines. So, the news that Samsung is throwing in the towel on S Voice in June has no effect on my whatsoever. But, it is sad that the Google and Amazon monopolies on voice assistants will continue to be unchallenged. Samsung still makes the best phones and smartwatches, so don't weep for it. "Hey, Google", are you sorry to see S Voice go?

Facial Recognition Tech - Should It Be Banned?

Facial Recognition Ban Proposed. Is facial recognition tech so dangerous to privacy rights that police should be banned from using it? A bill has been filed in the Senate proposing just that. As tech advances, the push and pull between legitimate societal needs for law enforcement, and individual rights to privacy, continue to be tested. It is highly unlikely that any advanced tech will be forever banned, however. The regulation of such technology will be the field we play on in the future. This bill doesn't have much of a future; but, it is certainly a starting point for a societal discussion of how to regulate the tech in the future. What do you think?

#WhyIAmASolo - Most Of What I Do Will Never Be Automated

Automating The Law. This article alleges that experts say the 23% of law practice is automated, and that the portion is increasing. Let's say this is true. A solo law practitioner does many things that automation will never do. While computers have been automating some lawyer tasks for some years now, the major advantage of tech has been to level the playing field among lawyers. You no longer have to be in BigLaw to have access to the power of computer database access to analysis and knowledge. In fact, the speed of tech development is probably much better leveraged by the lean solo practitioner who can make decisions without going to a committee. A computer can't sit patiently while a human client experiencing a traumatic legal event pours out their heart to a human person who is patient, kind and understanding. A computer can't shake your hand, greet you at the office door, and introduce you to the stress relieving aviary next to the waiting room, filled with parrots who squawk and talk and generally create a loud environment. In fact, even if a computer can assist the lawyer in creating a legal document or contract, it can't make judgment decisions about what the contract or document does or does not do. At least, the judgments require a human decision somewhere along the line. So, automate away, we lawyers will be here to guide and counsel you. As long, of course, as you pay the bill. 

Will All The Sentient Robots Please Leave The Courtroom

Robots In The Courtroom. This piece by Nikki Black hits the nail on the head. Yes, AI is becoming important in the legal field. No, there aren't going to be robot lawyers. The only robots in the courtroom will be the ones that are deployed to provide cleaning services and security at night; or, perhaps, security outside of courtrooms. Artificial intelligence will be inside the human lawyers' computers, however, and will play an increasing role in analyzing data and suggesting conclusions. If you want to worry about something, worry about something that is happening today.

#CES2020 - Gatebox Shows Off Its Answer To Amazon Echo

Japan, Anime, and Tech is quite a combination. Gatebox is showing off a smart speaker assistant at CES which doubles as a cute friend. Do we want out computer assistants to have a face AND a voice?