Genie out of the bottle

This in-depth analysis of the opportunities and challenges AI presents to the world is highly relevant to our profession. AI is already in daily use. There have been horror stories of lawyers using AI to find case law, only to discover that the supplied precedents were fake. Yet AI has a role for lawyers; for example, systems that can analyse contracts and spot pitfalls. 

My career has been characterised by changing technology, from a word processor that occupied a whole room, to the advent of mobile phones, computers and email. AI will be the next step. It should make our professional lives easier by sifting through a day’s emails. My email system does that already to an extent – but again, do we trust it?

The authors set out this study like a trial, with opening statements, evidence, closing submissions and a verdict of sorts. With AI-operated transport systems, agricultural equipment and armaments, the book argues for national and international regulation, both voluntary and legislated. It describes the problems of IT deserts and AI poverty, meaning people who cannot afford access to this brave new world. 

People are not only concerned about the accuracy of AI output, but also about the information on people that can be harvested by businesses and governments. Computers know that I buy crumpets on a Saturday, milk during the week. They track who I talk to and when, and what my interests and shopping lists are, from my browsing on the internet. They know how much money I spend, when and what on. This means AI could target advertisements to me, including political campaigns, and identify my values and beliefs. Scary stuff, but I probably do not need to worry too much about my shopping list falling into enemy hands. However, it is a real concern in countries with authoritarian regimes that can use AI to identify dissidents.

There is a strong case for regulation, but I am not convinced it will be easy or even possible to police all this. AI is international and easy to hide in unregulated regions. 

This book is an interesting read on a subject that we have got to understand. 

David Pickup is a partner at Pickup & Scott Solicitors, Aylesbury