Extract from Monica Harris’s article “More Than Algorithms: The Human Expertise Amplified by Legal Technology”
The digital age transformed the legal landscape, and nowhere is this change more evident than in the eDiscovery realm. Mountains of data now hold the key to legal battles, demanding sophisticated tools to navigate this ever-expanding digital terrain. While the rise of advanced technologies like AI and machine learning offers remarkable advancements, one crucial element remains irreplaceable: the human expert.
Symbiosis, not Substitution
It’s tempting to envision a future where AI replaces eDiscovery professionals, with its tireless algorithms sifting through data with ruthless efficiency. However, the reality is far more nuanced and it must work in concert with human engagement. AI excels at processing vast amounts of information, identifying patterns and anomalies hidden within the digital haystack. Yet it lacks the critical human element: understanding context, applying legal expertise and making nuanced judgments.
Imagine a legal professional facing a sea of emails related to a complex contract dispute. AI can flag potentially relevant messages based on keywords, highlighting potential anomalies like unusual spikes in communication or suspicious language patterns. But it’s the human who deciphers the meaning behind these flags, considering the sender-recipient relationship, industry jargon and potential legal implications. It’s their legal knowledge and understanding of the case’s narrative that determines which leads to pursue and which to discard.
