Artificial Intelligence

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This week we welcome Jane Oxley, Chief Revenue Officer at Smokeball, to discuss the pivotal role of communication in legal organizations and how AI is transforming legal practice management. While normally in Australia, we were lucky enough to find Jane while she was working in Chicago, Jane shares her global perspective on communication challenges, bridging time zones, and the creative ways Smokeball leverages technology to streamline law firm operations. Co-host, Greg Lambert kicked off the show by introducing the concept of “Lambert’s Law,” highlighting that “all problems are communication problems,” setting the tone for an insightful discussion on organizational efficiency.

Jane explains how effective communication structures can reveal the health of an organization, whether through Slack’s rapid exchanges or more traditional law firm channels like email and face-to-face meetings. She notes the unique challenges faced by smaller firms, particularly their focus on casework over internal collaboration. Smokeball addresses these needs by integrating AI tools that help firms manage cases, streamline communication, and reduce administrative burdens, allowing lawyers to feel more in control of their workflows.

Jane Oxley and Marlene Gebauer also discuss the role of AI in enhancing productivity and profitability. Jane describes Smokeball’s AI tool, Archie, which helps automate document creation, email drafting, and summarization tasks. With AI handling routine work, lawyers can dedicate more time to client interaction and higher-value tasks. This shift not only increases efficiency but also helps smaller firms bill more accurately for their time—a long-standing challenge in the legal industry.

Addressing the potential impact of AI on the billable hour, Jane shares her perspective on the slow but inevitable shift toward value-based billing. She emphasizes that while AI enhances efficiency, widespread change in billing models requires education and a mindset shift. Some firms have begun experimenting with alternative billing structures, but the transition is gradual and nuanced, varying by practice area. Ultimately, AI tools empower firms to deliver better client service and justify their fees confidently.

Finally, the discussion highlights ethical considerations in adopting AI, particularly regarding client data privacy and regulatory compliance. Jane advises firms to be vigilant in choosing trusted AI providers and implementing safeguards. She predicts that AI will amplify client expectations for efficiency and responsiveness, but the human side of law—empathy, communication, and trust—will remain irreplaceable. By embracing AI to manage routine tasks, firms can focus on delivering exceptional client experiences, making the human element the true winner in this evolving landscape.

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Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com
Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TRANSCRIPT

Continue Reading Communication, AI, and the Human Side of Law: Insights from Smokeball’s Jane Oxley

This week we welcome Tom Martin, founder of LawDroid, a pioneering AI platform aimed at transforming legal workflows through automation and no-code solutions. Tom shares his journey from practicing law to creating LawDroid, which supports legal professionals with tools designed to streamline tasks, enhance client communication, and automate document preparation. Throughout the conversation, Tom emphasizes how LawDroid is reshaping legal tech and access to justice, especially for underserved communities, by integrating generative AI and language processing into accessible, customizable applications.

Tom dives into the advantages of generative AI in legal practice, noting how tools like LawDroid take the heavy lifting out of document summarization, drafting, and other language-intensive tasks. He describes how AI-driven “agents” provide round-the-clock assistance to clients, effectively extending support beyond traditional working hours. The discussion also covers Tom’s views on AI’s potential to increase accessibility in the legal field, particularly through collaborations with legal aid organizations, allowing individuals to quickly find information and resources following natural disasters or legal challenges.

Beyond practical tools, Tom discusses how LawDroid leverages no-code options, enabling law firms of all sizes to customize solutions without heavy technical knowledge. He highlights LawDroid’s AI receptionist, lead capture bots, and document automation features, which empower legal professionals to serve clients more efficiently and affordably. Tom also shares insights into how LawDroid’s adaptability allows it to serve various legal practices, from estate planning to client intake processes, with options for those looking for hands-on or fully supported implementations.

The conversation further explores the implications of AI on the legal profession’s future, including both the potential for job transformation and the significant efficiency gains that AI brings. Tom reassures listeners that while AI may shift certain roles, it ultimately enhances lawyers’ ability to focus on complex and meaningful work, opening doors for expanded client bases and reduced costs for legal representation. He also speaks to data security, underscoring LawDroid’s commitment to protecting client data and privacy in compliance with ethical standards.

To conclude, Tom shares his thoughts on the importance of fostering a collaborative legal tech community, reflected in his co-founding of the Legal Technology Awards. He underscores the need to continually recognize leaders in the industry who are committed to social impact, innovation, and improving access to justice. As the interview wraps up, Tom looks forward to future developments in AI, advocating for an inclusive legal system that leverages technology to guarantee access to justice for all.

For more insights from Tom Martin and to learn about LawDroid, check out the links below.

Links & Resources

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Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com
Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TRANSCRIPT

Continue Reading Tom Martin on LawDroid’s Impact in Legal Tech

In this episode of The Geek in Review, hosts Marlene Gebauer and Greg Lambert are joined by Carolyn Austin, Director of Practice Innovation at K&L Gates; Brendan McDonnell, Partner at K&L Gates; and Abdi Shayesteh, CEO of AltaClaro. The conversation delves into innovative legal education strategies and the integration of generative AI in legal practice, highlighting how experiential learning platforms are shaping the future of legal training.

Abdi introduces AltaClaro’s experiential learning platform, designed to make lawyers practice-ready through simulation-based training. Utilizing a “Learn, Do, Review” methodology, the platform presents associates with real-world assignments, provides feedback from seasoned practitioners, and facilitates live review sessions. This approach aims to build confidence, enhance critical thinking skills, and improve efficiency among legal professionals by immersing them in practical scenarios that mirror actual legal work.

Brendan discusses K&L Gates’ longstanding commitment to innovation and education within the legal industry. He reflects on the firm’s history of embracing technology—such as developing one of the first e-discovery platforms—and its proactive stance on integrating generative AI into legal workflows. Recognizing the transformative potential of AI, K&L Gates formed an AI Solutions Group to prepare attorneys and allied professionals for the technological advancements reshaping legal practice.

Carolyn explains how K&L Gates collaborated with AltaClaro to develop specialized training programs focused on generative AI, including prompt engineering and supervisory courses. These programs address the challenges partners and managers face when integrating AI tools into their workflows, emphasizing ethical considerations, risk assessment, and effective supervision. The partnership ensures that all firm members, from associates to senior partners, are equipped with the necessary skills to use AI responsibly and effectively.

The guests explore the broader implications of AI adoption in the legal field, discussing challenges such as change management, ethical obligations, and the need for data-driven practices. They highlight the importance of fostering a culture of continuous learning and collaboration to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. Looking toward the future, they express optimism about AI’s potential to enhance legal services, improve access to justice, and drive innovation, emphasizing the critical role of education and adaptability in this transformation.

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Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com

Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

 

TranscriptContinue Reading Bridging Legal Practice and AI: K&L Gates and AltaClaro Innovate Legal Training

This episode of “The Geek in Review” explores MinterEllison’s strategic adoption of Microsoft Copilot, delving into the practical implications and challenges of implementing generative AI within the legal industry. Guests Amber O’Meara, Head of Innovation, and Tim Andrews, Director of IT Operations, discuss the firm’s multifaceted approach to generative AI, emphasizing its potential to enhance client experiences, boost productivity, and empower their legal professionals by automating mundane tasks and allowing them to focus on more complex legal work. This strategic vision, endorsed by the firm’s leadership, drove their decision to participate in the Copilot Early Access Program, providing valuable insights and shaping their implementation strategy.

One of the key takeaways is MinterEllison’s measured and strategic rollout of Copilot. Rather than a firm-wide deployment, they opted for a phased approach, prioritizing specific personas and departments that would benefit most from the technology. Initial challenges included data jurisdiction limitations, the inherent “fear factor” of adopting new technology, and user inertia stemming from unmet expectations. The firm addressed these obstacles through a comprehensive training program, incorporating a dedicated “Gen AI Time” initiative, collaborative sessions with Microsoft, and a “reverse mentoring” program for partners. This multifaceted approach, coupled with internal communication and a knowledge-sharing platform, fostered enthusiasm and addressed concerns, leading to impressive user satisfaction and reported time savings.

MinterEllison’s training program played a crucial role in the successful adoption of Copilot. Combining internally developed resources with vendor-provided training, the program addressed both the technical aspects of using Copilot and the art of prompt engineering. The firm’s innovative approach of dedicating fee-credited time for generative AI training proved highly effective, incentivizing participation and demonstrating leadership commitment. This investment in their people, combined with gamification elements like their internal “Mint Coin” cryptocurrency, fostered a competitive spirit and encouraged active engagement in the learning process.

The podcast highlights the importance of prompt engineering in maximizing the effectiveness of Copilot. While initial user expectations often fell short due to simplistic prompts, the training program emphasized the need for detailed and nuanced prompts to achieve optimal results. This understanding, coupled with the recognition that Copilot excels at content generation rather than computational tasks, significantly improved user satisfaction. The firm also acknowledges the importance of maintaining a “human in the loop” to validate outputs and mitigate potential inaccuracies or “hallucinations” generated by the AI. They anticipate the future ability to share custom prompts within the firm, further streamlining workflows and enhancing collaborative efforts.

Finally, the conversation touches on the broader impact of generative AI on the legal industry. MinterEllison envisions a future where AI tools are widely adopted, reshaping traditional law firm models and creating new roles focused on innovation and technology. They emphasize the importance of ongoing collaboration, both internally and within the legal community, to address client privacy concerns, share best practices, and navigate the evolving landscape of AI in law. The firm’s commitment to responsible AI usage, guided by their “Lighthouse Principles” and an AI steering committee, underscores their dedication to ethical implementation and client data security. They also see the potential for generative AI to contribute to access to justice initiatives and support social impact work, highlighting the transformative potential of these technologies beyond the traditional boundaries of legal practice.

Links:

Amber (Burgess) O’Meara | LinkedIn
Tim Andrews | LinkedIn
MinterEllison: Overview | LinkedIn
MinterEllison – MinterEllison

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Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com

Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

 

Transcript

Continue Reading Inside MinterEllison: A Case Study in Copilot Adoption with Amber O’Meara and Tim Andrews

This week, we welcome back Serena Wellen, Vice President of Product Management at LexisNexis Legal and Professional, to discuss the newly launched Lexis Protégé tool. This advanced AI assistant is designed to enhance legal professionals’ workflows by personalizing responses based on individual user profiles, including practice areas, jurisdictions, and document management systems. Wellen emphasizes that the future of AI lies in personalization, enabling Protégé to understand user habits and preferences, thereby improving its utility in legal settings.

Serena elaborates on how Protégé collects user data and integrates with existing document management systems (DMS). The setup process includes heavy lifting from LexisNexis, ensuring that the AI understands user roles and permissions, and can access relevant documents seamlessly. She stresses the importance of transparency and user control in the personalization process, allowing users to opt in or out of certain features as they see fit. This approach ensures that the use of Protégé aligns with the unique needs of individual law firms and practitioners.

Integration with Microsoft 365 applications like Word and Outlook is another significant feature of Protégé. Wellen explains that legal professionals spend a considerable amount of their time in Microsoft tools, and the AI’s ability to enhance productivity within these familiar environments is crucial. With features such as smart drafting tools, automated legal requests, and contextual awareness of user actions, Protégé aims to streamline workflows and reduce the time spent on repetitive tasks. The seamless connection between Protégé and Microsoft applications represents a shift toward more efficient legal research and document drafting processes.

Serena also addresses the pressing concerns of security, privacy, and data protection in AI applications. LexisNexis prioritizes the security of customer data by utilizing advanced encryption and private cloud infrastructures. Importantly, she clarifies that customer data is not used to train their models, maintaining confidentiality and trust. By ensuring that users have control over their data and how it is used, LexisNexis aims to alleviate fears surrounding the adoption of AI technology in the legal sector.

Finally, she shares insights on future developments for Protégé, including the incorporation of voice commands and horizon scanning features, which will further enhance legal research capabilities. As AI continues to evolve, Wellen envisions a future where legal professionals can engage with technology in more intuitive ways, allowing them to focus on the complexities of their work without being bogged down by manual processes. Overall, the conversation highlights the transformative potential of AI in the legal industry, underscoring LexisNexis’s commitment to supporting legal professionals with innovative, personalized tools.

Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com

Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

 

Transcript

Continue Reading Unveiling Lexis Protégé’s Personalized AI Revolution With Serena Wellen

This week, we sit down with Ted Theodoropoulos, CEO of InfoDash and host of the Legal Innovation Spotlight podcast. Ted brings over 25 years of experience in legal technology and has been instrumental in developing platforms that enhance collaboration and knowledge management in law firms. During the conversation, Ted shares the origins of InfoDash, the challenges of transitioning law firms to cloud-based systems, and the role of generative AI in both legal practice and business operations. The episode offers valuable insights for those interested in how technology is reshaping the legal industry.

Ted begins by explaining the journey of InfoDash, which evolved from a consulting firm called Acrowire, focused on building bespoke intranets and extranets for law firms. Recognizing the need for more innovative, cloud-based solutions, Ted and his team relaunched as InfoDash in 2022, just as law firms were moving en masse to Microsoft 365 and grappling with the shift to hybrid and remote work. This transition, Ted explains, has been challenging for firms accustomed to on-premises servers, a concept he refers to as “server huggers.” However, he points out that the cloud offers undeniable advantages, especially for firms looking to adopt AI-driven tools in the future.

The conversation then turns to the role of generative AI in the legal industry. Ted and the hosts discuss how AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot have generated excitement, but also disappointment, as their capabilities have yet to fully meet the specific needs of law firms. While generative AI shows promise in tasks like summarization and drafting, Ted cautions that the technology is not a “silver bullet.” He emphasizes the importance of oversight, particularly given the risks associated with hallucinations in AI-generated content. However, he believes that AI’s potential is vast, especially in the business side of law, where firms can automate administrative tasks without the regulatory hurdles that affect client work.

Knowledge management (KM) and innovation within law firms is another key topic of discussion. Ted notes that while KM has been a longstanding function in many firms, it often varies in scope and effectiveness. He highlights the recent rise of “innovation” roles in firms but warns that some of these are more about appearances than actual advancements—a phenomenon he dubs “innovation theater.” Ted argues that for firms to truly innovate, they must be willing to take risks and accept failure as part of the process. He calls for a more standardized approach to KM and innovation roles but acknowledges that cultural differences between firms make this difficult to achieve.

The episode concludes with a look toward the future of legal technology. Ted advises firms to adopt a cautious, incremental approach when implementing new technologies, such as AI. He warns against making large, reactionary investments based on the fear of missing out and encourages firms to start with small pilot programs that can be scaled as they yield results. By focusing on business of law use cases first, firms can gain early wins and build confidence in their technology strategies, avoiding the pitfalls of overpromising and underdelivering.

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Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com

Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Continue Reading From Innovation Theater to Real Change with InfoDash’s Ted Theodoropoulos

This week, we bring back our original TGIR podcast guest, Zena Applebaum. Zena is now the Senior Vice President of Market Development at Harbor, and we discuss the ongoing transformation driven by technological advancements and strategic shifts. Her insights provide a valuable perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing legal professionals as they navigate these changes.

Zena talks about the integration of generative AI (Gen AI) into legal research tools, particularly at Thomson Reuters, where she previously worked. She emphasizes the challenges in managing expectations around AI’s capabilities while ensuring that the products deliver on their promises. The legal industry has high expectations for AI to simplify the time-consuming and complex nature of legal research. However, Applebaum highlights the need for balance, as legal research remains inherently challenging, and overpromising on AI’s potential could lead to dissatisfaction among users.

Zena was one of the first in the legal market to understand the role of competitive intelligence in shaping product development and market strategies. Applebaum reflects on her experience at Thomson Reuters, where she applied competitive intelligence not just to monitor competitors but to anticipate market dynamics and plan for the future. This approach allowed Thomson Reuters to stay ahead by avoiding surprises and making informed decisions that aligned with long-term goals. Her emphasis on listening to customer needs and understanding market trends underscores the importance of strategic foresight in the legal tech industry.

We also talk about Zena’s move over to Harbor, where she now focuses on market development. She explains that her move was motivated by the opportunity to impact a smaller, more agile company and leverage her legal domain expertise in a broader context. At Harbor, Applebaum aims to redefine the company’s value proposition and position it as a holistic service provider for the legal industry. This shift from a product-centric role to a more strategic, client-focused position highlights the evolving nature of legal services and the increasing demand for comprehensive solutions that address various aspects of legal practice.

Furthermore, the podcast explores the potential impact of AI on the legal landscape and Harbor’s role in helping law firms and legal departments adapt to these changes. Applebaum notes that while AI has not yet revolutionized the industry as quickly as some anticipated, it is gradually driving efficiency and reshaping how legal professionals approach their work. Harbor’s technology-agnostic approach allows it to assist firms in optimizing their tech stacks and preparing for the future, whether through AI, cloud migration, or other technological advancements. This adaptability positions Harbor as a key player in guiding firms through the ongoing digital transformation.

Zena shares her outlook on the future of the legal industry, particularly the growing sophistication of in-house legal departments and the increasing competition for legal talent. She predicts that as AI continues to enhance efficiency and drive changes in the industry, the demand for skilled legal professionals will rise. Law firms will need to adapt to these shifts by embracing new technologies and rethinking their strategies to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

 

Contact Us: 

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com

Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Continue Reading AI, Market Dynamics, and the Future of Legal Services with Harbor’s Zena Applebaum

This week on The Geek in Review, we discuss the future of legal technology with Dr. Megan Ma, a distinguished research fellow and Associate Director of the Stanford Program in Law, Science, and Technology at the Stanford Center for Legal Informatics, also known as Codex. Dr. Ma’s groundbreaking work in integrating generative AI into legal applications takes center stage as she shares her insights on translating legal knowledge into code and the implications of human-machine collaboration in the legal field.

Dr. Ma discusses her unique background in law and linguistics, emphasizing the challenges of translating legal language into deterministic computer code. Her fascination with language and its nuances has inspired her research at Codex, where she explores how legal concepts can be effectively communicated through technology. She recounts her academic journey, explaining how her multilingual skills and interest in natural language processing have shaped her approach to developing legal tech solutions.

At Codex, the mission is to empower the legal system through innovative technology. Dr. Ma describes Codex as a collaborative hub, where experts from various fields work together to address inefficiencies and pain points in the legal system. She highlights the center’s commitment to human-centered design, ensuring that their technological advancements are co-created with relevant stakeholders. This approach ensures that the tools and solutions developed at Codex are practical and beneficial for both lawyers and clients.

One of the standout initiatives at Codex is their mentorship model, designed to mirror the traditional mentorship found in law firms. Dr. Ma explains how they use AI to create legal personas based on the redline practices of experienced partners. This innovative approach allows junior associates to receive focused guidance, helping them improve their skills and knowledge in a more efficient and impactful manner. By integrating AI into the mentorship process, Codex aims to bridge the gap between theoretical legal education and practical experience.

Dr. Ma introduces the concept of agentic workflows, where AI agents make autonomous decisions based on specified goals rather than predefined tasks. This dynamic interaction is particularly useful in legal negotiations, where unforeseen circumstances often arise. The negotiation model developed by Codex includes features like client rooms, expert consultations, and various levels of difficulty to simulate real-world scenarios. This hands-on training tool is designed to help young lawyers navigate complex negotiations and improve their problem-solving skills.

In the Crystal Ball segment, Dr. Ma shares her vision for the future of legal technology. She emphasizes the importance of developing tools that tap into the legal brain, focusing on the process behind legal decisions rather than just the end product. By capturing the experiential knowledge of seasoned lawyers, Codex aims to create more effective and intuitive AI tools that can support the legal profession in new and innovative ways. Dr. Ma’s insights highlight the potential for AI to transform the legal field, making it more efficient, accessible, and responsive to the needs of both practitioners and clients.

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Contact Us: 

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com
Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Continue Reading Training AI to Mentor Like a Partner: Insights from Dr. Megan Ma

This week, we are joined by ⁠Joshua Broyde⁠, PhD and Principal Solutions Architect at ⁠AI21 Labs⁠. Broyde discusses AI21 Labs’ work in developing foundation models and AI systems for enterprise use, with a focus on their latest model, ⁠Jamba-Instruct⁠.

Josh explains the concept of foundation models and how they differ from traditional AI models. He highlights AI21 Labs’ work with financial institutions on use cases like term sheet generation and financial document Q&A. The conversation explores the challenges and benefits of training models on company-specific data versus using retrieval augmented generation (RAG) techniques.

The interview delves into the development of Jamba Instruct, a hybrid model combining Mamba and Transformer architectures to achieve both speed and accuracy. Broyde discusses the model’s performance, industry reaction, and potential applications.

Safety and security considerations for AI models are addressed, with Broyde explaining AI21 Labs’ approach to implementing guardrails and secure deployment options for regulated industries. The discussion also covers the balance between model quality and cost, and the trend towards matching specific models to appropriate tasks.

Josh also shares his thoughts on future developments in the field, including the potential for agent-based approaches and increased focus on cost optimization in AI workflows.

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Contact Us: 

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com
Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Continue Reading Can AI Bring Both Speed and Accuracy: Josh Broyde of AI21 Labs (TGIR Ep. 261)

In this episode of The Geek in Review, hosts Marlene Gebauer and Greg Lambert sit down for a one-on-one conversation to catch up on their recent vacations and discuss some of the latest developments in the legal industry. Marlene shares her experience in Hawaii, where she enjoyed beautiful beaches, a nature preserve, and delicious local cuisine with her family. Greg, on the other hand, talks about his trip to South Africa, where he spent time in Kruger National Park observing wildlife and learning about the challenges of rhino poaching.

The conversation then shifts to the recent lawsuits filed by The New York Times, the Center for Investigative Reporting, and Mother Jones against OpenAI and Microsoft for using their copyrighted material to train AI systems. The hosts discuss the implications of these lawsuits and draw parallels to the music industry’s past struggles with Napster and the eventual rise of streaming services.

Marlene introduces a new AI-powered comic maker she discovered, which allows users to generate comic strips based on their own images and descriptions. Despite some humorous mishaps with her own generated character, she sees potential in the tool for creating engaging content. Greg shares his experience with Hedra, an AI tool that animates still pictures to create talking head videos, and the two discuss the possibility of creating a fully AI-generated podcast episode.

The hosts also explore practical applications of AI, such as AI Excel Bot, which generates Excel formulas based on plain text instructions and explains existing formulas in simple terms. They discuss how this tool could be beneficial for professionals who frequently work with complex spreadsheets.

Lastly, Greg highlights an episode of the Technically Legal podcast featuring Brandon Epstein, Chief Forensic Officer at Medex, who discusses the challenges of detecting deep fakes and the digital fingerprints left by various recording devices. The conversation emphasizes the importance of authenticating videos, especially in the news media, and the ongoing battle between deep fake creators and forensic experts.

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Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Continue Reading Catching Up on Tech and Travels – TGIR Ep. 260