Artificial intelligence is big news once again in law and beyond. Legal Business speaks to leaders in the field of advanced automation to assess what it means for the profession.

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While many are confident that their work will be brought to market within the coming months, researchers are keen to emphasise that we are a long way from seeing ‘strong’ AI systems capable of replicating human thought. As Dr Roland Vogl, director of the Center for Legal Informatics (CodeX) at Stanford University, cautions: ‘There is some fantastic research in AI and law, but most of this is not what’s being offered to firms right now. People speak of theoretical developments in AI and then jump to the rise of new technology in law firms and conclude that the really cutting-edge AI stuff is changing the legal market, but that’s not the case. Law firms might be talking about disruptors and trying to reposition themselves, but most of the computer science behind these systems is not new at all.’