264: The Legal Singularity - How A.I. will Improve Our Profession (with Ben Alarie)
48:48 Share

Let's journey into the fascinating world of law and technology with our extraordinary guest, Ben Alarie. He's not just a law professor, but also an entrepreneur and author who has put his expertise in an excitingly accessible format through his AI product, Ask Blue J. This ingenious tool simplifies tax law navigation, transforming complex databases into question-answering platforms. We also shed light on the concept of the 'legal singularity', a term coined by Ben himself in his new book, signifying the potential of AI to develop a more responsive and precise legal infrastructure. Our conversation takes an interesting turn as we dig into the predictive power of machine learning in judicial decisions. Imagine an AI tool that could anticipate a judge's ruling in ambiguous scenarios, sounds like a sci-fi movie, right? Well, not anymore. Ask Blue J, Ben's brainchild, is changing the game, boasting over 90% accuracy in certain areas. We also address a unique AI issue, the ‘hallucination problem’ - illustrating how AI can sometimes veer off course when it lacks sufficient information. Wrapping up our discussion, we touch upon the 80/20 principle, a guiding tenet that could be your key to success. It emphasizes getting the maximum return on investment with minimal effort. This enlightening conversation with Ben Alarie will not just keep you informed about the cutting-edge advancements in AI and machine learning in the legal field, but also inspire you to implement strategic principles for success in your professional journey. So, plug in those headphones and embark on this thought-provoking exploration of the legal industry's future. In this episode, you will hear:

The concept of the 'legal singularity' and the potential of AI in creating a responsive and precise legal infrastructure. Machine learning's predictive power in judicial decisions and the accuracy of Ask Blue J in certain areas. The ‘hallucination problem’ in AI, where it can go off course due to lack of sufficient information. Use of AI in diagnosing and rectifying social problems and achieving universal legal literacy. Implications of AI and technology for the future of the legal profession, legal education, and democracy.

Show Notes

Read: The 80/20 Principle: The Secret of Achieving More with Less), by Richard Koch Get my new email course: ChatGPT for Lawyers) (it's free) BlueJ website: https://www.bluej.com)  The Legal Singularity: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Law Radically Better), book by Ben Alarie Preet Bharara's podcast: Humanity, Security & AI, Oh My!) with Ian Bremmer & Shuman Ghosemajumder) 21 Lessons for the 21st Century), by Yuval Noah Harari Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow), by Yuval Noah Harari

General Resources

The 80/20 Principle) (my email newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice) The Inner Circle) (an online community for law firm owners)

Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts). Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Thanks to Our Sponsors Smith.ai Smith.ai is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. When you hire Smith.ai, you’re hiring well-trained, friendly receptionists who can respond to callers in English or Spanish. If there’s one great outsourcing opportunity for your practice, this is it. Let Smith.ai have your back while you stay focused on your work, knowing that your clients and prospects are being taken care of. Plans start at $210/month for 30 calls), and pricing starts at $140 for 20 chats, with overage at $7 per chat). They offer a risk-free start with a 14-day money-back guarantee on all receptionist and live chat plans, including add-ons (up to $1000). And they have a special offer for podcast listeners where you can get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a risk-free start with a 14-day money-back guarantee now (and learn more) at smith.ai). Overture Law

Overture Law is the first private attorney network enabling them to refer matters to one another and ethically share in referral fees. 

Membership is free if you're accepted. Apply for membership at Overture.law

Once you're accepted, you'll start getting valuable referrals and earn fees for matters you refer out. A powerful win-win for U.S.-based solo and small firm attorneys. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com) Let them know we sent you.