What is General AI?
General AI, or Artificial General Intelligence, refers to a type of artificial intelligence that possesses the ability to understand, learn, and apply knowledge in a manner like human beings. Unlike narrow AI, which is specialised in performing specific tasks (such as playing chess or recognising speech), General AI aims to achieve human-level intelligence and adaptability across a wide spectrum of activities.
“Artificial general intelligence (AGI) is a field of theoretical AI research that attempts to create software with human-like intelligence and the ability to self-teach. The aim is for the software to be able to perform tasks that it is not necessarily trained or developed for. “ Amazon
In essence, General AI would have the capacity to think, reason, and solve problems in diverse contexts, just like humans. It would not be limited to predefined tasks but would be able to learn new skills and adapt to new environments without requiring extensive retraining.
The Road to General AI
The pursuit of General AI is a complex and multifaceted challenge. Researchers and developers are working to create AI systems that can mimic human cognition, including understanding natural language, reasoning, problem-solving, and even emotional intelligence. Here are some of the key areas of focus in the development of General AI:
1 Machine Learning and Deep Learning: Machine learning and deep learning techniques are at the core of AI development. These methods enable machines to learn from data and improve their performance over time. For General AI, the challenge lies in developing algorithms that can generalise knowledge and apply it to a wide range of tasks.
2 Natural Language Processing (NLP): Understanding and processing human language is a critical component of General AI. NLP allows AI systems to comprehend, interpret, and respond to human language in a meaningful way. Achieving human-level language understanding is essential for creating AI that can engage in conversations, provide explanations, and understand context.
3 Cognitive Architecture: General AI requires the development of cognitive architectures that mimic human thought processes. These architectures integrate various cognitive functions, such as perception, memory, reasoning, and learning, to enable machines to think and act like humans.
4 Transfer Learning: Transfer learning involves applying knowledge gained from one task to new, unrelated tasks. For General AI, this capability is crucial, as it enables machines to learn and adapt without starting from scratch for every new task.
5 Common Sense Reasoning: One of the most challenging aspects of General AI is enabling machines to possess common sense reasoning. This involves understanding the world and making logical inferences based on incomplete or ambiguous information, much like humans do.
While Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) as a fully realised concept is still largely theoretical, several advanced AI technologies and applications that closely resemble AGI are currently being implemented in the legal market. Below are some existing examples of how AI, including advanced machine learning and natural language processing, are being used in the legal sector:
1. ROSS Intelligence
ROSS Intelligence is an AI-powered legal research tool that uses natural language processing to enhance legal research efficiency. While not AGI, ROSS demonstrates some elements of AGI by enabling users to interact with it using natural language queries. It can understand context, analyse large volumes of legal documents, and provide relevant case law and statutes quickly.
• How it Works: Lawyers can ask ROSS questions in natural language, much like they would consult a human colleague. ROSS then interprets the question, searches its vast database of legal information, and presents the most pertinent answers with cited case law, statutes, and regulations.
2. Luminance
Luminance is an AI platform that specialises in contract analysis and due diligence. It uses advanced machine learning algorithms to read and understand legal documents in a manner like a human lawyer, offering insights into contract terms, potential risks, and compliance issues.
• How it Works: Luminance scans and analyses thousands of documents rapidly, identifying patterns, clauses, and anomalies that might go unnoticed in manual reviews. It categorises documents and flags important terms that require attention.
3. Kira Systems
Kira Systems is another powerful AI tool designed for contract review and analysis. It uses machine learning to extract data from contracts, providing law firms with a streamlined process for document review and analysis.
• How it Works: Kira’s AI engine learns from user interactions, improving its ability to recognise specific clauses and language patterns over time. It can be trained to understand custom provisions relevant to specific practice areas or jurisdictions.
4. Lex Machina
Lex Machina is a legal analytics platform that employs AI to provide insights into litigation patterns and case outcomes. It helps legal professionals make data-driven decisions by predicting the likely outcomes of legal proceedings based on historical data.
• How it Works: Lex Machina analyses court documents, judge rulings, and historical case data to generate reports that highlight trends, case strategies, and potential outcomes. Lawyers can use this information to inform their legal strategies and anticipate opposing counsel’s moves.
5. DoNotPay
DoNotPay is an AI-powered chatbot that offers legal assistance for routine tasks, such as contesting parking tickets, filing small claims, and managing subscriptions. While it does not fully represent AGI, it exemplifies AI’s potential in providing accessible legal services to the public.
• How it Works: Users interact with DoNotPay’s chatbot through a simple interface, describing their legal issue. The AI then generates the necessary documents or guides users through the process of resolving their legal problem.
6. LawGeex
LawGeex is an AI platform designed to automate the contract review process. It uses machine learning and natural language processing to evaluate contracts against predefined legal criteria and best practices.
• How it Works: LawGeex analyses contracts and compares them to a firm’s standard playbook, identifying deviations and potential risks. It provides suggestions for amendments and highlights areas that require further human review.
7. Casetext
Casetext is an AI-driven legal research platform that utilises natural language processing to deliver precise search results and relevant case law to legal professionals.
• How it Works: Casetext’s Compose feature allows lawyers to input questions or legal issues in plain language, generating drafts of legal briefs and memos. The platform’s AI analyses the input and provides citations to relevant case law and statutes.
8. RAVN ACE (iManage RAVN)
RAVN ACE by iManage is an AI-driven platform for document management and information retrieval, specifically designed for legal professionals. It combines natural language processing and machine learning to understand and categorise legal documents.
• How it Works: RAVN ACE automatically indexes and categorises legal documents, enabling quick access to relevant information. It can extract key data points and summarise document content, allowing lawyers to find the necessary information efficiently.
9. Eigen Technologies
Eigen Technologies is a provider of natural language processing solutions that assist law firms in analysing and managing large volumes of legal documents. Its AI platform automates the extraction of information from contracts and other legal documents.
• How it Works: Eigen uses machine learning algorithms to recognise patterns in legal documents, extracting critical information and identifying relevant clauses. The platform learns from user feedback, continuously improving its accuracy and efficiency.
10. Cognitiv+
Cognitiv+ is an AI platform that offers contract analysis and regulatory compliance solutions. It uses advanced machine learning algorithms to review contracts, identify key terms, and ensure compliance with legal standards.
• How it Works: Cognitiv+ analyses contracts and regulatory documents, extracting relevant data and identifying potential risks or compliance issues. It provides insights into contract performance and compliance requirements.
While AGI is still an evolving concept, these AI-driven solutions demonstrate how advanced artificial intelligence is being leveraged in the legal market to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery. These technologies exemplify the potential of AI to emulate some aspects of AGI, offering a glimpse into the future of intelligent legal systems.
