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26 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | OCTOBER 2, 2023 Attorney Linn Freedman is a partner and chair of the data privacy and cybersecurity team at law firm Robinson+Cole. HBJ PHOTO | STEVE LASCHEVER AI in Law Attorneys slowly embrace AI, but urge caution as technology rapidly evolves By Hanna Snyder Gambini hgambini@hartfordbusiness.com T he Connecticut Bar Associa- tion in September announced the launch of its first-ever generative AI committee, the latest sign of the technology's growing influ- ence on the legal industry. The committee's charge includes exploring current and emerging generative AI technologies, and their potential impact on the practice of law. Attorneys say the use of AI is just in its infancy, but they are embracing its potential, while proceeding with caution. Law firms are experimenting with AI technology to tackle more mundane parts of the job and increase efficien- cies, industry experts said. Some lawyers, for example, are using it to review, summarize or draft docu- ments. Attorney Linn Freedman is a partner and chair of the data privacy and cybersecurity team at law firm Robinson+Cole. She said "AI is here to stay," and firms are now using tools in a controlled manner that won't risk violating copyright laws or exposing confidential information. "AI tools are brilliant when it comes to increasing efficiency and not having to do the same thing over and over and over," she said. "There are some very inefficient tasks that we do, where AI could assist to make those tasks more efficient." Attorney Kritika Bharadwaj, a partner with law firm Day Pitney in Hartford, said while some artifi- cial intelligence programs are key for an efficient practice, generative AI tools like ChatGPT are creating the most concern and need for caution. ChatGPT, developed by the San Francis- co-based startup OpenAI, can converse, generate readable text on demand and produce novel images and videos based on what it's learned from a database of digital books, online writ- ings and other media. ChatGPT is more evolved than previous iterations of language, speech, and text AI tools because it's widely available free of charge. In the legal profession, it can be used to outline an article, agreement or presentation, Bharadwaj said, "but we know it's not a good tool to use for legal research for case studies." Cautionary tales Freedman said the main concern with the databases being used to create and grow generative AI is ensuring that the information is accurate. "With an AI tool, the output is only as good as the input," she said, explaining that if the information that goes into an AI database is inaccu- rate, so too will be the output. Instances of attorneys' detrimental use CT lawyers establish generative AI committee; here's what it will do The Connecticut Bar Association has established a new committee aimed at evaluating AI's role and the impact it may have on the practice of law. Jonathan Shapiro and N. Kane Bennett, of Middletown-based Aeton Law Partners LLP, are the generative AI committee co-chairs. Key focus areas for the committee include: • Research and understanding • Implications for the legal profession • Access to justice • Regulatory and ethical considerations • Education and training • Policy recommendations • Ongoing evaluation BY THE NUMBERS AI in Law 62% The percentage of legal profes- sionals who say they are not using AI. 60% Percentage of professionals who feel the industry is not ready for AI. 75% Percentage of professionals who feel AI will have a positive impact on the legal industry, with work- load and access to legal services being two of the largest areas that AI will benefit. Source: 2023 Litify State of AI Report Jonathan Shapiro Kritika Bharadwaj N. Kane Bennett AI IN CT