[2024 LTAS] US 'AI Law Authority' Professor Baker: "Maximize AI Benefits, Minimize Risks"... Legal Times LegalTech Special Exhibition

At the '2024 Legal Tech AI Special Exhibition (LTAS, Legal Tech & AI Show)' held on the 26th at COEX Hall A in Samseong-dong, Seoul, James E. Baker, a judge of the U.S. Federal Information Protection Review Court and a professor at Syracuse University College of Law, is delivering the keynote speech. Photo by Legal Newspaper

"Artificial Intelligence (AI) does not experience fear. In the AI era, the duty of legal professionals is to maximize the advantages of AI while minimizing its risks."

James E. Baker, a judge of the U.S. Federal Information Protection Review Court and a professor at Syracuse University College of Law, recognized as the top authority on AI law in the U.S. legal community, stated this during his keynote speech titled "The Future of Law Brought by AI" at the "2024 Legal Tech & AI Show (LTAS)" hosted by Legal Times on the 26th.

He said, "Judges are both users of AI and the decision-makers on whether to admit AI-generated evidence. We must be mindful of situations where deepfake photos are submitted as trial evidence," adding, "Lawyers also need to be cautious when using AI. AI learns from all information. When lawyers use AI, they must ensure they do not violate client confidentiality obligations."

Regarding concerns that AI might take away jobs from legal professionals, he said, "AI can be used as a tool of dictatorship or as a technology that supports democracy. While some fear AI will take jobs, that will not actually be the case. Instead, legal professionals will play a key role in deciding whether AI becomes a democratic tool or an authoritarian one."

Judge Baker emphasized, "Even if the legislature cannot respond quickly to AI changes, legal professionals must handle AI by applying law and ethics," and added, "Bias is also an issue. AI learns statistical biases and can have more biases than humans. Lawyers must identify whether AI produces biased outcomes when using it."

On the 26th, at COEX Hall A in Samseong-dong, Seoul, Lee Soo-hyung, CEO of Legal Times, and guests took the stage to cut the ribbon at the "2024 Legal Tech AI Special Exhibition (LTAS, Legal Tech & AI Show)." Photo by Legal Times

At the opening ceremony held that morning, many legal figures attended to celebrate the event, including Lee Gi-su, President of the Korean Academy of Legal Studies; Jung Gye-seong, Managing Partner of Kim & Chang Law Office; Lim Gwan-hyeok, Chief Prosecutor of Seoul High Prosecutors' Office; Heo Jeong, Head of the Scientific Investigation Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (Prosecutor General); and Choi Bo-yoon, a member of the National Assembly from the People Power Party.

Lee Su-hyung, CEO of Legal Times, said in his opening remarks, "People around us use AI to write wedding speeches, and in the U.S., Nvidia, which makes AI chips, has surpassed Apple in market capitalization," adding, "This indicates that knowing AI well and having interest in it can open up great investment opportunities."

After the opening ceremony, key guests including President Lee and Chief Prosecutor Lim were guided by CEO Lee Su-hyung to visit booths of various legal tech companies installed at the venue, where they were introduced to the latest products developed by each company.

The event featured lectures on various topics related to legal AI by representatives and research directors of domestic and international companies leading the Korean legal tech industry, such as Law&Company, Law&Good, Lawporm, LBox, and LexisNexis. An AI special pavilion was also set up at the venue, where attendees could experience the latest products developed by these companies. Law firm Daeryuk Aju, the first domestic law firm to launch a 24-hour AI lawyer service, introduced its "AI Daeryuk Aju" service.

At the event, Won Ho-shin, Director of Judicial Informatization at the Court Administration Office, and Lee Seong-beom, Director of Information and Communications at the Planning and Coordination Department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, who are currently responsible for AI policies in the courts and prosecution, respectively, also delivered keynote speeches.

Director Won, in his speech titled "Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Judicial Information Systems," emphasized, "The next-generation electronic litigation system currently under development at the courts plans to introduce a big data platform applying AI models, a similar case judgment recommendation model, and a litigation procedure guidance bot (chatbot)," adding, "Budget support for the judiciary is also necessary for this." He stated, "I believe AI will greatly contribute to speedy trials, but ultimately, trials must be conducted by judges who conscientiously judge according to the Constitution."

Director Lee, who spoke on "Utilization Plans of Generative AI in Prosecutorial Case Handling," said, "An empirical research project on the use of generative AI in investigative work showed that AI could summarize investigative information and draft documents, but legal experts' verification was still necessary afterward," adding, "Fundamentally, generative AI cannot replace legal experts and will serve as an auxiliary tool." He also announced that the prosecution plans to open the next-generation criminal justice information system (KICS) applying AI technology in the second half of this year, stating, "The biggest feature of the next-generation KICS is the complete digitization of criminal procedures," and "The main goal is to eliminate paper throughout the entire investigation process from warrants onward. Prosecutors in trials will also conduct their work using tablet PCs without paper."

The event is being held over three days until the 28th at COEX Hall A in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

On the second day of the event, the 27th, Kang Min-gu, Managing Partner of Law Firm Doul (former Chief Judge of Seoul High Court and Chief Judge of Busan District Court), who led court informatization, will deliver a special lecture titled "Survival Strategies for Korean Legal Professionals in the AI Era."