In a first, a BigLaw firm announces it will use artificial intelligence in one of its practice areas
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Baker & Hostetler is the first law firm to announce that it will use a ground-breaking artificial intelligence product for legal research.
The law firm will license Ross Intelligence in its bankruptcy practice, report the Am Law Daily (sub. req.) and a press release. The research product uses IBM’s Watson technology, which is designed to get smarter as it is used.
Ross responds to lawyers’ questions in natural language by reading through the law, gathering evidence and drawing inferences. The program learns from the lawyers who use it to refine its search results. It also monitors the law and notifies users of new, relevant court decisions.
The Am Law Daily says the announcement by Baker & Hostetler is “somewhat surprising” given Dentons’ involvement in developing the technology through its subsidiary NextLaw Labs. Dan Jansen, CEO of NextLaw Labs, told the Am Law Daily that Dentons is “definitely interested” in licensing the Ross technology, but it saw no reason to be the first.
A few other law firms have signed license agreements, according to Ross Intelligence CEO and co-founder Andrew Arruda. He told the Am Law Daily that other deals will be announced soon.
Related articles:
ABA Journal: “How artificial intelligence is transforming the legal profession”
ABAJournal.com: “In potential job threat to associates, ‘artificially intelligent attorney’ gets BigLaw gig”
ABAJournal.com: “Meet ROSS, ‘the world’s first artificially intelligent attorney’ “
