What is AI?

What should I know about AI?

Generally, we'll be talking about generative AI (GAI) here - you know of it through its most common applications: ChatGPT, Bard, Claude, CoPilot, and others. These are Large Language Model Generative AI (LLMs), but there are other types of GAI, including those that create pictures. 

What is Generative AI and how does it work?

Generative AI is the term we use to describe particular types of machine learning that, instead of just retrieving or categorizing information it has access to, uses what it knows about that information to create new text, images, etc. LLMs evaluate large corpora of texts to generate entirely new texts. This is an important distinction. One of the critiques of LLM GAI is that it can hallucinate. But there is no way to avoid hallucinations and still be entirely generative and not extractive. 

The key is that LLMs work by predicting language based on past language use. So, in essence, it's working much like a human does when a human acquires language, but without understanding the meaning. Humans learn a bit about what words are and what they mean - they understand that certain words correspond to certain real concepts. For example, Saussure theorized that words have signified and signifiers.  

Is ChatGPT like a better Google Search?

No. Generative AI generates texts, it does not send you to search results. Some Generative AI (like Lexis+AI) also features "extractive" capabilities - in other words, it will give you links to go for your research. 

Is there anything else I should know?

AI (Artificial Intelligence) is a broad term that refers to the development of computer systems or machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. AI encompasses a wide range of techniques and applications, including machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and more. In the legal field, AI has the potential to assist with legal research, contract analysis, predicting case outcomes, and other tasks that lawyers and legal professionals handle.

Generative AI specifically focuses on the development of systems that can generate new content, such as text, images, or even music, based on patterns and examples from existing data. These systems learn from a large dataset and use that knowledge to generate new and original content that resembles the patterns present in the training data. Generative AI has shown promise in various creative domains, including generating legal texts, drafting contracts, and even simulating legal scenarios for training purposes.

LLMs (Large Language Models) are a type of generative AI system that specializes in processing and generating human-like text. They are trained on vast amounts of text data and can generate coherent and contextually relevant responses based on prompts given to them. LLMs, such as OpenAI's GPT-4, have been used for a wide range of applications, including writing articles, providing customer support, assisting in coding, and even aiding in legal research and analysis.

LLMs can be a valuable tool. They can assist with legal research by quickly analyzing and summarizing large volumes of legal texts, such as case law, statutes, and legal opinions. LLMs can also help in drafting legal documents, such as contracts, by generating suggested clauses or providing context-specific language based on given criteria. However, it is important to note that LLMs are not a replacement for legal expertise, and their outputs should always be reviewed and verified by legal professionals.

It's worth mentioning that the development and use of AI, including generative AI and LLMs, raise important legal and ethical considerations. Issues like data privacy, bias in training data, accountability, and the potential impact on the legal profession need to be carefully addressed as these technologies are integrated into legal practice.