Category «Communications»

AI interviewers can’t connect with people the way human researchers can – they can produce only data, not meaning

Kelley Cotter, Ankolika De and Priya C. Kumar are researchers who specialize in qualitative research on digital technologies. Collectively, they have decades of experience developing, conducting and publishing interview studies, and they teach qualitative research methods to undergraduate and graduate students. While AI tools can support social science research, they also have significant limitations. Not taking these limitations into account risks undermining the unique value of research that relies on human connection.

Read more

Subjects: AI, Communications, Education, Internet Trends, KM, Legal Research, Technology Trends

Don’t Build Your House on Rented Land: Why Writers Should Avoid Platform Dependency and How They Can Do So

Over the past several years, platforms such as Substack have become increasingly attractive to writers seeking to establish themselves as an independent voice. The appeal is obvious. They are easy to use and can turn a writer into a publisher overnight. No web developer is required. Payment systems are integrated, and distribution is built in. Substack markets itself as a refuge for writers who prefer autonomy to corporate hierarchy. There are good reasons to use Substack and similar businesses, but there are also risks. These platforms are not inherently malign, but they are fragile. This article by Jerry Lawson will focus on Substack, the currently trendy platform, but the key ideas apply to many other platforms.

Read more

Subjects: Communications, KM, Legal Research, Social Media, Technology Trends

Teaching Legal Research in the Generative AI Era: When Source Blindness and Source Erasure Collide (Part 2)

In Part 2 of her series on how Generative AI (GAI) has changed the dynamics of legal research, Tanya Thomas highlights how research used to encompass finding sources, evaluating them, synthesizing insights across multiple authorities, and reaching conclusions based on that synthesis. Now however, it means asking questions and accepting answers. Students have become consumers of information rather than investigators of it. They don’t develop the iterative thinking that characterizes skilled research—trying a search, evaluating results, refining the query, following unexpected leads, discovering connections, recognizing gaps, circling back to fill them. They simply ask and receive.

Read more

Subjects: AI, Communications, Education, Legal Education, Legal Profession, Legal Research, Legal Technology

The Grief You Can’t Name – How Change and Transformation Influence You

When organizations ask people to change how they work, they’re not just asking them to learn new procedures. They’re asking them to grieve what made them valuable, release what gave them pride, and trust that something on the other side of that loss will be worth it. Kevin Novak describes how oganizations pour billions into change management while ignoring the psychological truth underneath: regardless of the situation, when confronted with organizational change, humans go through the same grief cycle first identified by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. Her book, On Death and Dying, published in 1969, introduced the concept of the Five Stages of Grief. Those five stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Her intent wasn’t an application to organizational change or transformation, or even a recognition of how we all go through stages when confronted with any personal or professional change. However, Novak states that ongoing research and his company’s study of the human factor, demonstrate her model’s applicability. Understanding these stages can help inform individuals facing change as much as for how leaders approach transformation.

Read more

Subjects: Communication Skills, Communications, Education, Ethics, Leadership, Libraries & Librarians, Management

Case Closed: Why Every Lawyer Needs to Be Listening to Podcasts

Jerry Lawson explains why podcasts belong in every lawyer’s toolkit. Lawson states that podcasts have not only helped him professionally but also added some joy to his life. They offer a rare opportunity for busy lawyers the chance to learn and grow even while doing routine tasks. It’s learning that fits into your life, not the other way around. Lawson recommends number of legal centric as well as general interest podcasts.

Read more

Subjects: Communications, Legal Marketing, Legal Profession, Presentation Skills

Another Brilliant Idea! the Hidden Dangers of Sycophantic AI

Jordan Furlong’s article expands analysis on the already noted risks arising from lawyers using AI. Generative AI can be incredibly, and dangerously, sycophantic. This is particularly worrisome for lawyers, because if they lose intellectual skills, what will they left to offer people? Furlong notes that the similarities between lawyer thinking and AI “thinking” should be a cause for alarm within the legal profession.

Read more

Subjects: AI, Communication Skills, Communications, Legal Education, Legal Profession, Legal Research, Management

The Pragmatic Pivot: Selling Defensible Wins in the Law Department’s Middle Ground

Law department innovation leaders operate at a demanding intersection. They must innovate in measurable ways. Yet, particularly in the current economic climate, this mandate collides head-on with intense budget scrutiny, hiring freezes, and an unrelenting demand for immediate, tangible returns.  Big tech visions often yield to the urgent need for pragmatic cost control. So, how do we advance an innovation agenda in a way that is both impactful and financially defensible right now? Dennis Kennedy, Director, Center for Law, Technology & Innovation Michigan State University College of Law, advises that the most pragmatic, resilient, and successful innovation strategy for law departments today involves strategically targeting the vast, resource-intensive “middle ground” of legal work with AI.  

Read more

Subjects: AI, Communications, KM, Leadership, Legal Profession, Management
➤