LexisNexis Reportedly Building Generative AI Tool For Legal Research

• Blockchain Council
• September 21, 2023

In the ever-evolving world of legal technology, LexisNexis is making waves with the introduction of Lexis+ AI, a groundbreaking product designed to reshape legal research and document drafting. This innovative tool, powered by state-of-the-art generative AI technology, is poised to redefine the way lawyers operate, offering a seamless blend of conversation, research, and content creation.

LexisNexis, a renowned legal software company, has long recognized the potential of artificial intelligence in the legal industry. Jeff Reihl, the Chief Technology Officer at LexisNexis, understands the value AI brings to the table. Over the years, the company has been integrating AI technologies into its platform, but the advent of ChatGPT in November brought new possibilities to the forefront. ChatGPT’s ability to generate text with a conversational tone has the potential to reshape legal work.

“One of the key objectives behind Lexis+ AI is to enhance the efficiency of legal professionals,” states Jeff Pfeifer, Chief Product Officer for LexisNexis. Lawyers often grapple with time-consuming tasks such as brief writing and citation research. Lexis+ AI aims to automate these mundane processes, allowing attorneys to allocate their precious time to higher-level legal analysis and strategic planning. Pfeifer emphasizes, “Our solution is designed to leverage the latest in generative AI technology with trusted insights from LexisNexis.”

While the potential benefits of generative AI are substantial, LexisNexis is acutely aware of the challenges involved. The incident involving New York City lawyers who used AI to produce a poorly written legal brief serves as a cautionary tale. LexisNexis is committed to ensuring that AI-powered tools empower lawyers rather than hinder their work. “Our generative AI is a private model not shared with third parties,” assures Pfeifer. The company is implementing rigorous quality control measures and working closely with legal experts to address the challenges associated with AI-generated text and mitigate potential legal errors.

Lexis+ AI is designed to assist lawyers in three primary use cases: conversational search, summarization, and drafting. Its interface resembles ChatGPT, with a space for entering prompts or questions on the left and a conversation history in the center. Links to standard Lexis+ resources for legal research, brief analysis, litigation analytics, practice guidance, and legal news are also available.

During a demonstration, Lexis+ AI swiftly provided answers to legal inquiries and embedded citation links for related statutes, case opinions, and practice guidance content. Users can explore these underlying authorities by clicking on them. Even as users delve into source content, a Lexis+ AI Assistant remains accessible, ready to address further legal questions.

Lexis+ AI can also draft legal documents, such as cease-and-desist letters, based on user input. It offers the flexibility to adjust the tone and content of documents as needed. Users can engage in a continuous dialogue with the service, refining questions and seeking clarification as required.

A critical concern with generative AI in legal contexts is the risk of providing inaccurate or fabricated information. Pfeifer emphasizes that Lexis+ AI minimizes this risk by relying on trusted and authoritative content from LexisNexis. “Lexis+ AI excels at providing the most accurate answers to legal inquiries because it leverages global authoritative content from LexisNexis throughout its development,” he states.

However, Pfeifer acknowledges that Lexis+ AI’s output, especially in drafting, serves as a starting point and may require review and editing by legal professionals to tailor it to specific clients and matters. Human legal experts remain integral to the process, continuously improving the AI model’s performance.

Lexis+ AI employs a unique approach by deploying multiple language models (LLMs) for different use cases. LexisNexis has found that various models perform better in specific scenarios. This approach ensures that Lexis+ AI delivers the most relevant and accurate results for various legal tasks.

Lexis+ AI prioritizes user privacy and security. Individual user sessions are entirely private, and LexisNexis adheres to the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Principles of RELX, its parent company. While Lexis+ AI currently relies on LexisNexis-owned or proprietary content, the company plans to expand its information sources through partnerships with third-party content providers.

LexisNexis, with the launch of Lexis+ AI, is at the forefront of the legal tech revolution. By harnessing the power of generative AI, the company aims to empower lawyers, streamline their workflows, and provide more efficient and accurate legal solutions. As the legal industry evolves, LexisNexis is poised to lead the way, with Lexis+ AI as a testament to its commitment to innovation and excellence in legal technology.