In my other software endeavors, I have been frustrated by the overuse of the phrase “artificial intelligence” as an attempt to make an otherwise dull object look shiny. While this concern remains valid today, the landscape of AI has dramatically evolved. AI is here.

What Brief Pilot originally achieved through rule-based programming (if/then logic) has now been augmented with genuine machine learning. Today, Brief Pilot demonstrates features like automated first drafts of reply briefs and the ability to generate Statements of Facts from uploaded transcripts. As of this writing in January 2025, both of these features are a Beta release. They work well.

The AI landscape has transformed significantly in the last two years. While OpenAI remains a major player, it has been joined by other powerful competitors including Anthropic, Google (with Gemini), and other companies pushing the boundaries of language AI. These AI systems have progressed from impressive but limited text generation to more sophisticated legal analysis and document drafting. The legal tech sector has embraced these advances, with numerous companies developing specialized AI tools for legal research, document review, and brief writing.

However, the core wisdom about the need for human oversight remains more relevant than ever. While AI can now generate increasingly sophisticated legal documents, the role of attorneys has evolved rather than diminished. I can tell you from first hand experience that AI hallucinations and misinterpretations of statutes and case law are VERY REAL. If you work with AI, including our BriefPilot AI, be prepared to double-check everything. Act is if you are working with a smart summer intern from a third tier law school. The intern is helpful, but wrong enough that you need to be on your toes.

With that caveat, the dream of having both experienced human attorneys and AI assistance has materialized. While we still wouldn’t choose AI over an experienced appellate defender, AI + the experienced attorney outperforms the experienced attorney alone.

Looking forward, the focus isn’t just on what AI can do, but on how we can integrate it thoughtfully into legal practice while maintaining the high standards our profession demands. The goal isn’t to replace human judgment but to augment it, allowing attorneys to focus more on complex legal reasoning, strategy, and client advocacy.