As industries are diving headfirst into the AI race, technology attorneys are finding themselves in high demand. The legal landscape surrounding rapidly evolving technology remains complex, providing lawyers specializing in AI work with plenty of opportunities to assist companies involved in building AI tools and those interested in utilizing the technology.
According to Frank Pasquale, a law professor at Cornell Tech and Cornell Law School, the current situation represents a golden age for technology attorneys. He notes that there is a massive coordinated effort to integrate various forms of technology into businesses, leading to a surge in demand for legal expertise in the field.
With the increasing adoption of AI, especially generative AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, the legal field is experiencing a heyday. More than a half-dozen tech attorneys from across the United States have reported receiving numerous inquiries from clients seeking guidance on integrating AI into their business operations and addressing legal concerns related to the technology.
James Gatto, a partner at Sheppard Mullin, predicts that the demand for AI-related legal services will continue for at least a decade. He likens the current generative AI boom to the rise of the internet in the 1990s, emphasizing that every company will need to navigate AI-related legal issues and ensure compliance with evolving laws and regulations.
Companies across various industries are exploring how AI will impact their businesses, prompting them to seek legal counsel to navigate the complex legal landscape surrounding AI. Peter Werner, a partner at Cooley, highlights the similarities between the current AI boom and the late 90s when law firms established specialized internet practices to address emerging legal issues related to the internet.
AI raises a host of novel legal concerns, including intellectual property rights, privacy and data protection, liability, and human rights issues such as bias and discrimination. As AI companies face copyright lawsuits and other legal challenges, attorneys are tasked with providing guidance on navigating these uncharted legal territories.
The role of a tech attorney is expected to expand as AI continues to reshape industries and raise new legal challenges. Attorneys anticipate having to learn new areas of law and adapt to the evolving legal landscape shaped by AI technologies.
In addition to assisting companies with AI policies and governance, law firms themselves need to consider how AI is disrupting the legal industry. Werner warns that firms that fail to adapt to the changing landscape brought about by AI may face challenges in the future, emphasizing the importance of staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving technological environment.
Overall, the surge in demand for technology attorneys in the AI space reflects the transformative impact of AI on businesses and the legal profession. As companies grapple with the implications of AI adoption, skilled legal professionals play a crucial role in guiding them through the complex legal challenges posed by this cutting-edge technology.
