The Evolving Role of AI in the Practice of Law
Attorney Brandon Harter, founder of Lancaster Tech Law, recognizes the growing significance of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal industry. As the founder of a law firm that specializes in tech-related cases, Harter has seen an increase in legal questions about AI as the technology becomes more prevalent. He emphasizes that court rulings around AI are evolving rapidly, much like the technology itself, and will continue to do so in the coming years. Harter also expresses interest in using AI within his own law firm to improve efficiency.
How Businesses in Pennsylvania are Utilizing AI
Harter observes that many businesses in Pennsylvania are utilizing AI in various applications. Companies are using AI tools to draft blog posts, marketing materials, and correspondence. Moreover, AI is being implemented in industries such as healthcare, banking, and law firms for tasks like medical record summarization, decision-making processes, and document summarization. Harter highlights the creative applications of AI, including the use of chatbots to provide automated customer service that avoids misinformation. Overall, AI is becoming a ubiquitous technology that impacts almost every industry.
Legal Issues and Concerns Around AI in the Workplace
AI comes with its own set of legal issues and concerns that businesses must be aware of. Harter issues warnings about the potential liabilities associated with using AI. He advises companies to read and fact-check the content generated by AI, especially when it comes to industry-specific AI tools that summarize information from specific sources. Intellectual property is another concern, as it raises questions about whether AI-generated content can be copyrighted. Harter cautions against relying too heavily on AI for tasks that require originality and uniqueness. He also raises concerns about bias and discrimination when using AI for hiring, as AI systems can inadvertently mimic past decisions that were based on race or gender.
Protecting Data Privacy in the Age of AI
Harter emphasizes the importance of data privacy when using AI in business operations. Companies must be cautious about the information they feed into AI systems and consider what the AI is allowed to do with that information. Privacy concerns arise when AI systems gather and potentially sell data without explicit consent. Harter believes that Pennsylvania needs more updated regulations regarding data privacy and AI, as the current regulations are not sufficient in protecting individuals’ privacy rights.
The Potential Risks and Benefits of AI in Education and Beyond
AI is making significant advancements in education, with AI detection tools being utilized to detect plagiarism in complex papers. However, the use of AI detection tools creates questions about liability. Harter points out that direct plagiarism is easier to detect than AI-generated text, as students can now use AI as a shortcut to complete assignments. In the workplace, the use of generative AI is acceptable, but teachers may impose restrictions to ensure students prove their own capabilities without relying on AI shortcuts. Despite potential risks and challenges, Harter views the recent advances and growing potential of AI, especially with chatbots like ChatGPT, as an exciting technology that can improve efficiency and help society in multiple ways.
In conclusion, the rise of AI is transforming numerous industries, including the legal field. Brandon Harter, founder of Lancaster Tech Law, recognizes the significance of AI in his work and is interested in implementing AI within his own law firm. However, as AI continues to evolve, there are legal issues, concerns about bias and discrimination, and privacy considerations that businesses need to navigate. Nonetheless, the potential benefits of AI in various applications, including education, make it an exciting technology that offers new possibilities for efficiency and improved processes.
Analyst comment
Positive news.
As AI continues to evolve, the market for AI technology and services will expand significantly in the coming years. Businesses in various industries, including healthcare, banking, and law firms, are already utilizing AI to improve efficiency and productivity. Despite legal issues and concerns about bias and privacy, the potential benefits of AI in education and other fields make it an exciting technology that will continue to impact and transform industries.
