Extract from Exterro’s article “Why You Need to Walk Before You Run: AI Readiness Starts with Technical Competence”
The legal world can’t stop talking about artificial intelligence—and for good reason. AI promises to transform how we discover, analyze, and understand information. But before we sprint into this new era, there’s an essential truth we can’t ignore: you have to walk before you run.
That walk begins with technical competence—the foundational fluency in the systems, data, and digital tools that underpin every modern legal task. A decade after the ABA added a duty of technology competence, too many professionals still struggle with the basics of discovery platforms, collaboration systems, and data security. And as firms race to adopt AI, those gaps are becoming more visible—and more consequential.
AI isn’t a shortcut around this learning curve. In fact, it magnifies it. That’s why ACEDS’ webinar on this year’s AI and Risk-themed eDiscovery Day is titled, Walk Before You Run: Why Technical Competence Must Precede AI Literacy.
