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Stanford, USC, Duke study shows AI can read contracts better than lawyers

mashable.com

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Re: Stanford, USC, Duke study shows AI can read contracts better than lawyers

#5

Post by onion2k »

tzfld wrote: post #2

So, is that mean lawyers can be replaced by robots in the future?

Some of them, yes.

If your job is taking data and transforming it in to different data, or taking data and interpreting it to produce new data, then a computer is going to be better at it than you very soon. If the developers of that software can persuade your boss (and any relevant government authorities) that this is the case then you'll need a new job soon. This is true in all professional services.

If your job includes any creative work than isn't simply derived from previous work then you're safe for a while. But probably not forever...

Re: Stanford, USC, Duke study shows AI can read contracts better than lawyers

#8

Post by throwaway2016a »

This part of the article goes with my general:

> So does this spell the end of humanity? Not at all. On the contrary, the use of AI can actually help lawyers expedite their work, and free them up to focus on tasks that still require a human brain.

Although what that does not point out is it will still cost jobs just not "all" the jobs. It will soon take less people to do the same job and unless the demand grows or the demand currently vastly outpaces supply, companies will need to downsize.

There is a best case. It could be that no one loses their job and it means Doctors, Lawyers, and Engineers can start working 40 hour weeks and have a work live balance.

Re: Stanford, USC, Duke study shows AI can read contracts better than lawyers

#9

Post by mrleiter »

> "I strongly believe that law students and junior lawyers need to understand these AI tools, and other technologies, that will help make them better lawyers and shape future legal practice," Buell told Mashable in an email.

I am a law student and that is not what is going through my head. What I see is a tougher job market, justifiably. Understanding, and more importantly, developing legal tech will help me make to be a better lawyer; since I am not already on top of the food chain, we (as graduates) will be eaten away.

Also: it is important to keep in mind that this is strictly contract law. Criminal and maybe to some extent tort law will be in the hands of real people for some foreseeable time, at least in regards to representation. Representation must not be strictly seen in a legal manner. As a lawyer you are also a fellow human with emotions, who must weigh pros and cons specifically adapted to your client. And that, right now, is a human thing only.

Research and drafting documents - that I believe will also be dominated by AI. Simply because economies of scale and cost/effectiveness ratio.

Re: Stanford, USC, Duke study shows AI can read contracts better than lawyers

#10

Post by throwaway2016a »

crabl wrote: post #6

"The AI also completed the task in 26 minutes, while the human lawyers took 92 minutes on average", should be 26 _seconds_, according to the infographic on the source page: https://www.lawgeex.com/AIvsLawyer/

That makes WAY more sense. If the model is pre-trained it would be really tough to hit 26 minutes. Maybe put a few "sleep" calls in there?
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