Category «AI»

The Case For Large Language Model Optimism in Legal Research From A Law & Technology Librarian

The emergence of Large Language Models (LLMs) in legal research signifies a transformative shift. This article by Sean Harrington critically evaluates the advent and fine-tuning of Law-Specific LLMs, such as those offered by Casetext, Westlaw, and Lexis. Unlike generalized models, these specialized LLMs draw from databases enriched with authoritative legal resources, ensuring accuracy and relevance. Harrington highlights the importance of advanced prompting techniques and the innovative utilization of embeddings and vector databases, which enable semantic searching, a critical aspect in retrieving nuanced legal information. Furthermore, the article addresses the ‘Black Box Problem’ and explores remedies for transparency. It also discusses the potential of crowdsourcing secondary materials as a means to democratize legal knowledge. In conclusion, this article emphasizes that Law-Specific LLMs, with proper development and ethical considerations, can revolutionize legal research and practice, while calling for active engagement from the legal community in shaping this emerging technology.

Subjects: AI, KM, Law Librarians, Legal Research, Legal Research Training, LEXIS, Search Engines, Search Strategies, Westlaw

AI in Finance and Banking – August 30, 2023

This semi-monthly column by Sabrina I. Pacifici highlights news, government reports and industry white papers as well as academic papers on the subject of AI’s fast paced impact on the banking and finance sectors. The chronological links provided are to the primary sources, and as available, indicate links to alternate free versions. Each entry includes the publication name, date published, article title and abstract. Four highlights from this week: Are Large Language Models Finance’s Second Shot At AI?; Convergence of AI and blockchain: Unlocking new possibilities; Generative AI in Operational Risk Management: and Generative AI in Operational Risk Management: Harnessing the Future of Finance.

Subjects: AI, AI in Banking and Finance, Blockchain, Economy, Financial System, Government Resources

Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, August 26, 2023

Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the increasingly complex and wide ranging ways technology is used to compromise and diminish our privacy and online security, often without our situational awareness. Four highlights from this week: Potential New York Times lawsuit could force OpenAI to wipe ChatGPT and start over; Health Data Breach Lawsuits Surge as Cyberattacks Keep Climbing; Biden administration unveils new crypto tax reporting rules; and Imposter scams are the top U.S. fraud.

Subjects: AI, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Economy, Email Security, Financial System, Health, Legal Research

The Case for AI Guardrails

Kevin Novak sets the table with his opening statement: Whatever you think about the U.S. government or our elected officials, it does have guardrails in place to protect its citizens. For pharma and food products, it’s the FDA. For workplace safety there’s OSHA. For mobility safety, it’s the Department of Transportation. For safe investments, there’s the SEC. For consumer protection, there’s the Federal Trade Commission. For AI and emerging tech, there’s nothing.

Subjects: AI, Climate Change, Congress, Legal Research, Legislative, Social Media

Can you trust AI? Here’s why you shouldn’t

Security expert Bruce Schneier and data scientist Nathan Sanders believe that people who come to rely on AIs will have to trust them implicitly to navigate daily life. That means they will need to be sure the AIs aren’t secretly working for someone else. Across the internet, devices and services that seem to work for you already secretly work against you. Smart TVs spy on you. Phone apps collect and sell your data. Many apps and websites manipulate you through dark patterns, design elements that deliberately mislead, coerce or deceive website visitors. This is surveillance capitalism, and AI is shaping up to be part of it.

Subjects: AI, Big Data, Civil Liberties, Cyberlaw, Human Rights, Legal Research, Privacy

Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, August 19, 2023

Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the increasingly complex and wide ranging ways technology is used to compromise and diminish our privacy and online security, often without our situational awareness. Four highlights from this week: National Archives will make its AI use case inventory public; Data Breaches and Lawyers: Highlights from IBM’s 2023 Report; Microsoft limits use of AI Services in upcoming Services Agreement update; and Two Women Accuse Tile of Marketing Its Devices as Stalking Aids.

Subjects: AI, Cybercrime, Cyberlaw, Cybersecurity, Government Resources, KM, Legal Research

AI in Banking and Finance, August 15, 2023

This semi-monthly column by Sabrina I. Pacifici highlights news, government and regulatory documents and industry white papers as well as academic papers on the subject of AI’s fast paced impact on the banking and finance sectors. The chronological links provided are to the primary sources, and as available, indicate links to alternate free versions. Five highlights from this week: AI in the financial industry: Machine learning in banking; Machine Learning Boosts Profits – Banking Giant’s Deep Dive; Banks embracing the AI future need to pay attention to its risks; and the S.E.C.’s Chief Is Worried About A.I.

Subjects: AI, AI in Banking and Finance, Cybersecurity, Economy, Financial System, Government Resources, Legal Research

Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, August 12, 2023

Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the increasingly complex and wide ranging ways technology is used to compromise and diminish our privacy and online security, often without our situational awareness. Four highlights from this week: Zoom Contradicts Its Own Policy About Training AI On Your Data; ‘Hypnotized’ ChatGPT, Bard Generate Malicious Code, Bad Advice; SEC charges big banks with doing business through messaging apps without keeping records; and White House announces cybersecurity plan to protect nation’s public schools.

Subjects: AI, Communications, Cryptocurrency, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Education, Financial System, Government Resources, Legal Research, Privacy

Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, August 6, 2023

Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the increasingly complex and wide ranging ways technology is used to compromise and diminish our privacy and online security, often without our situational awareness. Four highlights from this week: Canon warns of Wi-Fi security risks when discarding inkjet printers; New Attack Impacts Major AI Chatbots; U.S. Hunts Chinese Malware That Could Disrupt American Military Operations; and New Attack Impacts Major AI Chatbots.

Subjects: AI, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, KM, Privacy

Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, July 29, 2023

Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the increasingly complex and wide ranging ways technology is used to compromise and diminish our privacy and online security, often without our situational awareness. Four highlights from this week: New Tool Shows if Your Car Might Be Tracking You, Selling Your Data; Crypto Sector Is Rife With ‘Fraud’ and ‘Hucksters’ Warns Gary Gensler; This Stalkerware is Spying On Thousands: Here’s What To Do; and How researchers broke ChatGPT and what it could mean for future AI development.

Subjects: AI, Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Economy, Financial System, Health, Legal Research, Privacy, Securities Law