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The State of AI 2024: A Lawyer’s Guide to Our AI-Powered Future
As a lawyer diving into the world of artificial intelligence, I’ve spent considerable time reviewing the latest State of AI Report 2024, and let me tell you – it’s spicier than a courthouse drama. From regulatory showdowns to ethical dilemmas that would make Solomon scratch his head, 2024 has been quite the year for AI. Let’s break down what you need to know.
The Big Players: More Plot Twists Than a John Grisham Novel
Remember when tech drama meant arguing over iPhone vs. Android? Those were simpler times. 2024 saw OpenAI’s o1 model emerge as the new heavyweight champion, though with pricing that would make a corporate lawyer blush – we’re talking $15 per million input tokens and $60 per million output tokens. That’s like billing for reading and writing your emails!
Meanwhile, Meta’s Llama 3 family proved that open-source models can compete with the proprietary giants. Think of it as the public defender who unexpectedly wins against the expensive corporate law firm. The clincher? They trained it on 15 trillion tokens, which is roughly equivalent to reading every legal brief ever written… twice.
The Regulatory Landscape: When Law Meets Code
As someone straddling both the legal and AI worlds, this is where things get particularly interesting. The EU finally passed its AI Act, making it the first comprehensive AI regulation globally. It’s like GDPR for AI, but with more German-French drama than a European art film.
The US took a different approach with Executive Order 14110, requiring notification before deploying models trained with more than 10^26 FLOPS of computing power. That’s a number so large it makes the federal tax code look concise.
Safety and Ethics: The New Due Diligence
Here’s something that should keep every tech lawyer awake at night: jailbreaking attempts on AI models have become increasingly sophisticated. It’s like finding loopholes in contracts, but instead of avoiding obligations, you’re potentially unleashing chaos. The good news? Companies are working on defenses, though they’re playing what seems like an eternal game of whack-a-mole with red teamers.
The Money Trail: Follow the GPUs
NVIDIA has become the most powerful company in AI, briefly joining the $3T club. That’s like making partner at every major law firm simultaneously. Their GPU monopoly is so complete that investing in NVIDIA stock would have outperformed investing in AI startups by a factor of 4x. As they say in legal circles, res ipsa loquitur – the thing speaks for itself.
Looking Ahead: The Legal Eagle’s Perspective
What does this mean for us legal professionals? First, AI isn’t just coming for document review anymore – it’s revolutionizing how legal work is done. Tools like Harvey AI have raised significant funding and are being adopted by major law firms. The key is to embrace these changes while maintaining our ethical obligations and professional judgment.
Conclusion: The Verdict Is Still Out
As we navigate this rapidly evolving landscape, one thing is clear: understanding AI is no longer optional for legal professionals. Whether you’re drafting AI regulations, advising tech clients, or simply trying to stay competitive in a changing market, keeping up with these developments is crucial.
Remember the old legal maxim „ignorantia juris non excusat” (ignorance of the law is no excuse)? Well, in 2024, we might need to add „ignorantia AI non excusat” to our legal lexicon.
What do you think about these developments in AI? Are you already using AI tools in your practice? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe for more insights at the intersection of law and artificial intelligence.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Also, no AI models were harmed in the writing of this piece.
