How Anthropic and Thomson Reuters Developed a Lawyer-Trusted AI Solution

Introduction to the Partnership

On November 15, 2023, Thomson Reuters unveiled an impressive suite of generative AI initiatives designed to redefine the legal profession, amidst increasing demand for technology-driven solutions. By leveraging AI capabilities developed in collaboration with Anthropic, the legal landscape is set to be transformed.

The Rise of AI in Legal Research

Legal professionals often face the daunting challenge of sifting through vast amounts of data to find pertinent case law and legal precedents. To meet this challenge head-on, Thomson Reuters introduced AI-Assisted Research on Westlaw Precision, a groundbreaking generative AI solution specifically tailored for legal research.

David Wong, Chief Product Officer at Thomson Reuters, stated,

“Thomson Reuters is redefining the way legal work is done by delivering a generative AI-based toolkit to enable attorneys to quickly gather deeper insights and deliver a better work product.”

Understanding AI-Assisted Research on Westlaw Precision

This innovative tool allows attorneys to pose complex legal questions in natural language and receive immediate, synthesized responses. By harnessing over 150 years of editorial expertise and the power of extensive legal databases, AI-Assisted Research aims to save hours of legal labor. The tool ensures accuracy through a methodology called Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), which prevents generation inaccuracies, such as erroneous case names or citations.

Introducing CoCounsel

In addition to AI-Assisted Research, Thomson Reuters has also announced the commercial offering of CoCounsel Core, inspired by insights gained from over 4,000 hours of testing with real legal professionals. This first-of-its-kind AI legal assistant integrates seamlessly with multiple Thomson Reuters services including Practical Law and Document Intelligence.

Through CoCounsel, legal practitioners can use comprehensive generative AI tools for tasks such as:

• Preparing for depositions
• Drafting correspondence
• Conducting database searches
• Document reviews
• Summarizing legal documents
• Contract data extraction
• Ensuring contract compliance

The Generative AI Platform

Thomson Reuters has developed a Generative AI Platform, a cloud-native technology solution designed to rapidly create and scale new AI skills across various legal applications. This innovative platform exemplifies the firm’s commitment to delivering top-tier content quickly and reliably.

Future Developments for Legal Technology

Looking ahead, Thomson Reuters plans to introduce generative AI capabilities into its Practical Law product line early in 2024, bringing even more enhancements to legal workflows within the industry. As articulated by Mike Dahn, head of Westlaw Product Management,

“Our human oversight, technology expertise, and industry-leading content are critical to producing trusted answers with generative AI.”

Upholding Trust and Reliability

For legal practitioners, the challenge lies in finding knowledge that is not only comprehensive but also trustworthy. With the AI-Assisted Research tool, Thomson Reuters aims to empower attorneys by ensuring that every output is rooted in vetted databases, further enhancing the reliability of AI results.

Andrew Bedigian, Counsel at Larson LLP, shared insights on the platform’s reliability, noting,

“The fact that AI-Assisted Research relies exclusively on Thomson Reuters vetted database should provide lawyers with confidence that the answer being generated in response to attorney questions is supported.”

The Road Ahead for AI in Law

The integration of AI in the legal profession is a transformative move that has the potential to enhance productivity while ensuring compliance with ethical standards. As tools like CoCounsel and AI-Assisted Research become mainstream, they will form the backbone of future legal operations, permitting attorneys to focus on more complex, innovative, and strategic endeavors.

Ensuring AI Responsibility and Ethics

Thomson Reuters recognizes that the advancement of AI in the legal industry comes with responsibility. Ongoing iterations of AI models will be subjected to rigorous testing, ensuring they meet stringent standards for privacy and security.

A Coordinated Effort Across the Industry

The developments showcased by Thomson Reuters are not isolated events but rather part of a broader trend in the legal arena. The legal tech landscape has witnessed substantial investments and advancements in AI in recent years, driving forward innovations that prioritize user experience and value delivery.

As initiatives grow, lawyers will increasingly rely on their understanding of AI tools to navigate their profession successfully. The legal community must also address the ethos surrounding AI, ensuring it augments the human decision-making process rather than replacing it.

Final Thoughts

Looking forward, the integration of AI in legal operations presents incredible potential. As firms adapt to these technologies, they will experience shifts in client expectations and operational paradigms. The legal sector must prioritize ongoing education on AI applications to remain relevant in this evolving landscape. By embracing innovation and addressing ethical complexities, lawyers can leverage AI to enhance their practice while reinforcing their vital role in society.

In summary, the collaboration between Thomson Reuters and Anthropic heralds a new chapter in AI-driven legal practice that fosters a culture of efficiency, reliability, and ethical responsibility.