Your next workplace robot may not sweep the company floor or assume a manufacturing function. Instead, it may be advising the C-suite!
That’s right! Your next robot may handle your company’s legal and litigation issues as “Robot, Esq.,” according to an article by Josh Blackman, JD, who specializes in the intersection of law and technology.
Blackman, assistant professor of law at South Texas College of Law, president of Harland Institute, and creator of the Supreme Court fantasy league FantasyScotus.net, says that obtaining legal advice could soon be as simple as obtaining a Jeopardy! answer from Watson, IBM’s artificial intelligence computer system.
Not only could your robot attorney analyze a potential lawsuit, but it could give you data predicting the outcome of your particular case—broken down by possible judges, says Blackman.
But would you want that? And should it even be attempted?
First, there are those state unauthorized practice of law regulations. Law school ain’t cheap, and lawyers jealously guard any intrusion unto their craft. In fact, most states have stringent requirements for anyone (or anything) who wish to provide legal advice. Would a robot violate these state laws?
Blackman addresses the ethical implications of a robot attorney whose judgment is based on algorithms generated outside of your company. He also discusses the potential for bias in the programs creating the robot’s intellectual functions.
And, what about all the privacy implications of sharing confidential information?
Further, how do you explain to the Department of Labor or your stockholders, for example, that you took a decision on the advice of your robot?
Most critically where do you go and what recourse do you have when your cyber-lawyer gives you bad legal advice? The manufacturer? But wait, can they carry malpractice insurance?
Maybe your company counsel isn’t so bad after all!
As you know, HRSBT loves robots in the workplace—see these other stories: