AI Brings Promise and Peril to the Legal Profession

AI presents both opportunities and threats for the legal profession - it could automate tasks but also drastically reduce jobs. However, some argue lawyer accountability is more important than the specific tech used.

AI tools can help lawyers be more efficient by quickly analyzing documents, finding precedents, and generating documents. But these tools also risk propagating biases and inaccuracies if not vetted.

Major software companies like Microsoft and LexisNexis are releasing AI products aimed at lawyers. Law firms are testing these along with more general AI tools like ChatGPT.

Some legal AI startups use combinations of proprietary and third-party AI to provide services directly to the public, aiming to democratize legal help. But they face challenges around regulation.

AI is already extensively used by corporations that lawyers may litigate against, so some argue it can "level the playing field" by empowering individuals. But policing AI usage and ethics is complex.