eDiscovery Daily Blog

• February 12, 2025

There’s a moment when every new technology shifts from novelty to necessity. Think about the first time you used GPS instead of printing out MapQuest directions (or, for the true old-schoolers, unfolding a giant road atlas or Rand McNally folding maps). At first, it felt unnecessary—maybe even risky. “I know how to get there,” you’d say. But then, one day, you hit a roadblock, and your GPS rerouted you seamlessly (“re-routing” ring a bell?). You arrived faster, stress-free, and never looked back.

This is precisely what’s happening with AI in eDiscovery right now. Some firms are still clutching their paper maps, while others have buckled up and embraced AI-powered tools that streamline everything from document review to privilege logs.

At the Masters Legal Conference in Los Angeles, I had the chance to listen to some of the brightest minds in legal tech share their experiences with AI. The big question on everyone’s mind: Is AI a driver, a co-pilot (I’m not referring to that Copilot), or a hitchhiker tagging along for the ride?

Insight #1: AI as a Co-Pilot, Not an Autopilot

The conference made one thing clear: AI isn’t here to replace lawyers—it’s here to assist them.

One panelist shared how their firm had used AI-powered contract analysis to cut an 80-hour project down to just 3 hours. Another recounted how automated privilege logs saved their associates from mind-numbing, repetitive work.

But here’s the key—AI didn’t replace the lawyers. It simply handled the heavy lifting, freeing up attorneys to focus on strategic, high-value work. Like a GPS recalculating your route, AI tools help lawyers navigate the data deluge faster and smarter—but you still need a human in the driver’s seat.

Insight #2: Open vs. Closed AI—Who’s in the Passenger Seat?

One of the biggest debates was data security in AI. Open AI platforms like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are great for general legal research but pose risks when dealing with sensitive client data. Closed AI systems— or proprietary in-house solutions—offer a more secure way to leverage AI without exposing confidential information.

One panelist told a story that really stuck with me: A firm was in a rush to analyze 80+ contracts for a time-sensitive case. Instead of assigning junior associates to manually comb through the documents, they uploaded them into a closed AI system. Within hours, they had detailed summaries and insights that would have taken a human team days to compile.

The lesson? AI works best when you pick the right passenger for the journey. If you’re letting just any hitchhiker into your car (open AI with unknown security policies), you might be putting your data at risk. But if you choose a trusted co-pilot (secure AI designed for legal use), you can get to your destination faster and safer.

Insight #3: The Privilege Log Problem—AI as the Ultimate Roadside Assistant

If document review is the long highway of eDiscovery, then privilege logs are the unexpected flat tire. They take forever, they’re tedious, and they always show up at the worst time.

Enter AI. One of the most exciting applications discussed at the conference was using AI to automate privilege log creation. Instead of painstakingly summarizing thousands of documents, AI can prepopulate descriptions, allowing lawyers to review instead of rewrite.

This isn’t just efficiency—it’s a game-changer. AI handles the roadside repair so legal teams can keep moving forward at full speed.

Insight #4: Selling AI to Law Firms—The Road Trip Analogy

Despite all these benefits, many attorneys are still hesitant about AI. One panelist put it best:

“Lawyers don’t want to be the first to adopt new tech. But they don’t want to be the last, either.”

Convincing a firm to embrace AI is a lot like convincing a road-trip partner to let go of the paper map. Some people need proof before they’ll trust the GPS. Here are the best ways firms are selling AI adoption internally:

• Start with Small Wins: Show how AI can cut hours off a single process before pitching it for broader use.
• Make it Transparent: Lawyers trust what they understand. Firms that educate their teams on how AI works are seeing better adoption.
• Show the ROI: AI adoption skyrockets when firms see the real-time cost and time savings.

Personal Takeaways: Are You Ready to Take the Wheel?

I walked away from the Masters Legal Conference with one big realization: AI in eDiscovery isn’t just the future—it’s now.

The firms that embrace AI intelligently are already driving ahead of the competition. The ones resisting? They’re still pulling over to unfold their paper maps.

If you’re still skeptical, ask yourself this: How many hours are you losing to tasks that AI could handle in minutes? How quickly could you get to strategic decision-making if AI took care of the grunt work? It’s time to buckle up, take control, and start using AI as the mighty co-pilot it was meant to be.

The Road Ahead: AI as Your Trusted Co-Pilot

The AI revolution in eDiscovery isn’t a question of if—it’s a question of how fast you’re willing to adapt. The firms that are already leveraging AI as a strategic co-pilot are accelerating past the competition, cutting down on inefficiencies, and focusing on what truly matters—high-value legal work. Those still hesitant? They’re stuck at the roadside, watching others zoom past them.

The choice is yours: Are you ready to take the wheel and steer your practice into the future? AI isn’t here to replace legal expertise—it’s here to amplify it. Whether it’s automating privilege logs, optimizing contract analysis, or enhancing data security, the right AI tools can help you navigate the complex terrain of eDiscovery with precision and speed.

So, where do you stand? Are you driving, co-piloting, or still hitchhiking? The road to AI-powered efficiency is open—let’s hit the gas and move forward together. Are you ready to explore how AI can transform your workflow?

Let’s connect, and I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Here are a couple of resources I have been consuming around AI in legal:

CloudNine’s partnership with eDiscovery AI helps attorneys introduce a safe, efficient closed AI system to tackle the largest data volumes to get to the important data quickly.

A podcast AI made for me with Google NotebookLM (check it out if you are not privy; you can make a podcast for auditory learners from any source, our group of sources, with the click of one button). This source is the release of the 2025 State of the Industry Report from eDiscovery Today.

A webinar from EDRM and eDiscovery Today on the State of the Industry

Tools I use every day:

Gemini, Perplexity, ChatGPT Pro, NotbookLM

By Matthew Neal | Business Development Manager