Podcast Glut - How Paul, Weiss AI Lawyers Are Overcoming That By Being, Well, So Non-Lawyerly


 

Again, Paul, Weiss is out there in front of the developments impinging on business - and providing unique perspective as well as services. This time it's using the glut medium of podcasting in a fresh way to guide business in navigating AI. 

Back in Spring 2020, Paul, Weiss was the first US law firm to establish a specialized ESG (Environmental Social Governance) practice.  Now, it's the Paul, Weiss podcast series "Waking Up with AI.” It is hosted by partner Katherine Forrest and counsel Anna Gressel. 

Explicitly Forrest and Gressel indicate 1) They are aware there is a podcast glut 2) Therefore, the objective is to shape this as business' go-to for briefings and insights that, of course, have legal pointers. But the latter will be packaged as non-lawyerly. This circles back to the law firm's mission to serve the overall business needs of the clients, not just focusing on the legal issues. There is that old joke: The client won the case, then wound up falling apart. 

If you aren't an auditory type, the series also provides a transcript of the presentations. The analysis is comprehensive, including, yes, the technical. Each episode will run for five to seven minutes. 

The takeaway from the first episode is this: Your internal corporate definition of AI must match that used by regulators and state jurisdictions. The two presenters provide as a definition one tweaked from the OECD standard:

" ... artificial intelligence is a machine learning technology that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers from the input it receives how to generate output such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical or virtual environments.”

The broad scope of the series facilitates its utility. That is, it zeroes in on what's critical to business in the now. 

For example, on March 6th, Bloomberg Law headlined with this: "EU Poised to Enact Sweeping AI Rules With US, Global Impact." Although the EU is not the first to play in the AI regulatory sandbox, the scope of any of its legislation is huge: 27 nations. Those include businesses in the US, of course.

On March 13th, the European Parliament is proposing legislation which is expected to pass easily. As Bloomberg Law reports:

"The Act would regulate different uses of AI based on risk. It includes prohibitions on certain use cases—such as “emotion recognition” systems in the workplace—which carry the highest fines: 7% of global revenue or 35 million euros (about $38 million), whichever is higher."

Needless to say, geopolitical tensions have heightened awareness about how one-world we are. 

Paul, Weiss operates a specialized AI practice. As explained on its website, its ethos is comprehensive and proactive. Under the umbrella what is addressed include:

  • Algorithmic bias, including with respect to advertising, ethical issues, regulatory scrutiny and consumer and class action litigation;
  • The use of AI tools, such as pricing and subscription algorithms, including with respect to competition law;
  • The use of generative AI, including with respect to emerging copyright infringement and regulatory concerns;
  • Holistic review and impact assessments of AI and other transformational technology;
  • Guidance on governance frameworks and regulatory compliance around AI and other digital assets; and
  • AI and cybersecurity considerations.



Since 2008, Brad Karp has chaired Paul. Weiss. Most recently, his mission has been organizational innovation and geographical expansion. In addition he has been on the front lines of combatting antisemitism. 

In most cases you have only one shot in communications. Jane Genova is a communications coach and content-creator. Complimentary consultation (please phone/text 203-468-8579 or email janegenova374@gmail.com) 


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