Futurelawyer

AI Generated Case Summaries From AnyLaw? Yes, Please.

AnyLaw. Legal research empowered by AI. Everything is changing rapidly, now that computers have learned how to use LLMs (Large Language Models) to mimic human thought. Legal research, dependent as it is on large quantities of human language fashioned in opinions, statutes, regulations, and so forth, is tailor made for AI. Now, my favorite legal research company, AnyLaw, is offering a 7 day free trial to AI powered case summaries that will speed legal research exponentially. What do you get with AnyLaw? How about full coverage across state and federal courts, with daily updates,  linked citations, allowing seamless navigation across all content, fast, easy, and intuitive keyword search functionality and proximity operators, responsive, live filters based on court level, state, date and more, and, the ability to save and print cases? Now, in addition, AI generated  case summaries. The cost is minimal, at $40 a month, or $400 a year, and free to try. Get thee to AnyLaw, and see what true computer research can do for you and your practice. FutureLawyer recommended.

Are Your Files Backed Up In The Cloud?

Google Drive Files Disappearing? CloudHQ is a great utility that can make connections between cloud services, and can sync files across services. This article about a problem some users are having with files stored in Google Drive, and having six months of files disappearing, caused me to use Cloud HQ to sync my Google Drive files with Microsoft OneDrive. Cloud HQ makes it easy, and I now have all my filed synchronized in both locations. When a file is added to OneDrive, it is synced automatically to Google Drive, and vice versa. Be careful out there. Do you know where your files are? In addition, I use GoodSync to save all of my essential files and documents to a Micro SD card in my computer, and also on a USB external drive. Backup your files. The backup is your lifeline.

Are Your Files Backed Up In The Cloud?

Google Drive Files Disappearing? CloudHQ is a great utility that can make connections between cloud services, and can sync files across services. This article about a problem some users are having with files stored in Google Drive, and having six months of files disappearing, caused me to use Cloud HQ to sync my Google Drive files with Microsoft OneDrive. Cloud HQ makes it easy, and I now have all my filed synchronized in both locations. When a file is added to OneDrive, it is synced automatically to Google Drive, and vice versa. Be careful out there. Do you know where your files are? In addition, I use GoodSync to save all of my essential files and documents to a Micro SD card in my computer, and also on a USB external drive. Backup your files. The backup is your lifeline.

The Generative AI Wars Are Heating Up.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/microsoft-copilot-app-now-available-on-google-play-store-for-free/article67679119.ece Microsoft has released a mobile app for its CoPilot AI offering, as a free services, to compete with Chat GPT. I still use Chat GPT every day in my law practice and general information search engine; but, Microsoft is upping the stakes. Chat GPT is a paid service, at $20 a month, while Microsoft CoPilot is free. Through the Copilot app, users can access AI models such as OpenAI’s text-to-image generator DALL-E 3 and the GPT-4 model that is currently a paid feature via the ChatGPT app. Hey, competition raises the level of all boats, and I am enjoying the sea change in computer search. On another front in the War, however, the New York Times and others are suing OpenAI for using their content to train the AI engines. If they succeed, expect the cost of Generative AI to go up and up. Oh well, nothing in life is free; but, free is better.

Harvey Is Coming. Not The Rabbit.

Chat GPT Was Just The Beginning. The Tidal Wave Is Coming. I just joined the wait list for the Harvey GPT collaboration between Open AI and Big Law firm, Allen and Overy. I am certain that I won't need, or be able to afford it, when it comes. But a secure, designed generative legal bot, is certainly going to upend the practice of law in the near future, and it is already available to the 3,500 Allen and Overy lawyers around the world. Yes, big firms and big money can do this kind of collaboration; but, for $20 a month, small fry like the Futurelawyer can certainly do great things with the generalized Chat bots out there. Like the big legal research companies in the past, I am expecting the vendors to create products that are designed for solos and small firms. Whatever happens, if you are a lawyer just starting out, or in the middle of a law career, you had better jump on this train. It is leaving the station.

Yes, Virginia, There Is A New Version Of Android Coming...Android 14.

Samsung Galaxy Android 14 - Install Or Not. It seems like yesterday that the highlight of my week was a new version of my mobile phone software. I remember Android 3, 4, 5 etc. They all had cute candy names like "Ice Cream". Every new version expanded the speed, smoothness, and feature set. Lately, however, I have eschewed the early adopter label, and am keeping my phones for a couple of years. Currently, I still use, as my daily driver, the Samsung Galaxy S21, which is everything I need in a Smartphone. So, I am not as concerned that my older phone doesn't get the new OS versions until later in the cycle. I suppose that is my maturity talking; but, it is more likely that the whole personal computing device industry is maturing. Advances these days are incremental, and, unless you spend 23 out of every 24 hours playing with your phone (you know, like have a job), you really don't need the latest and greatest. In the market? Get a 2 year old phone, save 50% on the original retail price, and geek out.

 

AudioPen - This Is Not Your Father's Dictation System.

AudioPen. As soon as Chat GPT hit the streets late last year, I, and a few million of my friends, were excited to see where Generative AI could take us as professionals, with an emphasis on my profession of law. While others worried about AI research supplanting humans, I saw immediately that any new computer tool could be used to "enhance", and not to replace, humans in any given job. As AI matures, it is interesting to see how my fellow humans, and lawyers in particular, are going to be using the power of machines that are smarter, in some ways, than humans. They are certainly magnitudes faster than humans. Recently, I discovered a new application, AudioPen, that applies AI to random notes and dictation spoken by a human into a microphone, analyzes it, and turns it into readable, publishable text. At least, that is the plan. 

Well, I just spent a couple of minutes dictating random thoughts into the AudioPen app, and, in less than a minute, the application came up with this:

"Today, I'm trying out a new app called AudioPen. It uses smart AI to help write notes. You can use it with Chrome or on its own. This app is special because it can turn spoken words into clear written text. Generative AI has even been used to write books! AudioPen goes that one better.

AudioPen takes what you say and turns it into something you can share with others. This saves time because you don't have to edit your words as much. I used to pay $15 a month for another app, but I didn't use it much because the text needed lots of editing.

Now, I've talked for 2 and a half minutes about AudioPen. I'll let the app check my words and see what happens."

Pretty amazing. In the old days, I can remember driving home from a deposition, and speaking random notes into a portable tape recorder. When I got back to the office, I would give the microcassette to my secretary, and she would transcribe my notes into a paper transcript, which I would use to refresh my memory later. We all thought that was just the best thing ever. Now, I can see using AudioPen to draft memoranda, pleadings, correspondence, and just about anything a lawyer might need to get through the day. Generative AI will not replace lawyers. It just might, however, make us faster and better at what we do.

Google Search? You Don't Know Google Search.

You Don't Know Google Search. With all the talk of AI and generative AI supplanting the traditional search engines, you would think that Google search, long the best in the business, was getting ready to fall by the wayside. Not so fast, Lone Ranger. Google's engineers are as busy as ever, and you can bet that they are preparing to supercharge the Google search engine with AI abilities. Remember, Google was the first to demo a conversational bot that could make restaurant reservations, and other cool stuff. But, until the Apocalypse is proven to be over hyped, try some of the cooler Google search abilities that you don't know about. You can hum a tune, and Google will recognize it. You can test out some of the secret Easter eggs in the engine. You can combine text and image searches and more. Use your existing tools before you abandon the baby for the bath water. Google on.

#TBT - In 1993 WordPerfect Was The Only Word Processor Worth Using...But, It Took 13 Floppies To Install.

O Ye Of Little Faith - The Kindle Scribe Is Already Getting Updates.

I got an email this morning from Amazon, highlighting the first updates to the Kindle Scribe. Naysayers have been complaining that the note taking features were not as robust as the other EInk pads out there; but, the combination of basic note taking with the Kindle library made me and others buy it. Well, Amazon is already upgrading the note functions, and the first update is available already. The email this morning said the following:

Your Kindle Scribe is getting new brush types and new notebook subfolder capabilities

New features are ready starting today.

What's new?

Different writing tools for your different writing needs are ready to go. Try the new fountain pen for beautiful calligraphy, switch to marker to emphasize your notes, or use the new pencil for sketching. Also, keep your notes organized with new subfolder capabilities.

The updates will automatically download and install on your Kindle Scribe when connected wirelessly. 

For my more impatient friends, the updates can be downloaded manually now.

In the coming months, Kindle Scribe will add lasso copy/paste tools, improved notebook organization and navigation, and the ability to send documents to Kindle Scribe directly from within Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365 subscription required).

I am loving my Scribe even more.