Tech

published : 2023-11-16

Thomson Reuters Launches Game-Changing AI Tools for Legal Research

Revolutionary AI-Driven Platform Empowers Legal Professionals with Fast and Accurate Results

A legal professional deep in thought, sitting at a desk, with Thomson Reuters' AI tools for legal research displayed on a computer screen. (Photo taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV)

Thomson Reuters, the renowned global leader in legal research, has unveiled groundbreaking initiatives in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI). Boasting the incorporation of GenAI into their legal research platform, the company aims to provide professionals with advanced assistance in handling complex research tasks.

Manifesting as AI-Assisted Research on Westlaw Precision, this cutting-edge functionality offers users the ability to effortlessly frame intricate legal queries using natural language. In return, the platform synthesizes precise answers by tapping into Thomson Reuters' comprehensive Westlaw database. With over 150 years of legal analysis and content at its disposal, accompanied by relevant links to external sources, this groundbreaking tool excels in providing accurate and up-to-date legal authority.

David Wong, the Chief Product Officer for Thomson Reuters, along with Mike Dahn, the Head of Westlaw Product Management, affirmed the significance of this innovation. They stated, 'AI-Assisted Research on Westlaw Precision empowers legal professionals to swiftly discover answers, regardless of the complexity of their queries. What used to take hours of manual labor can now be accomplished in mere minutes. By utilizing the highly trusted legal content from Westlaw Precision, legal experts can redirect their focus towards more strategic and high-value work.'

David Wong, Chief Product Officer for Thomson Reuters, discussing the revolutionary AI-Assisted Research on Westlaw Precision. (Photo taken with a Nikon D850)

To combat any potential pitfalls, Thomson Reuters' AI-Assisted Research employs retrieval augmented generation (RAG) to prevent the AI models from generating fabricated case names or citations. By maintaining a laser focus solely on the content within the Westlaw archive, this intelligent system ensures robust accuracy and reliability.

Looking ahead, Thomson Reuters plans to enhance their GenAI assistant, CoCounsel. Already available to its customers, CoCounsel will be equipped with new skill sets over the next year. The integration of CoCounsel into the company's content and products will unlock an array of additional benefits for attorneys and legal professionals. Not only will they have access to AI-powered legal research, but they can also utilize these tools to draft, review, and summarize legal documents. Furthermore, the platform supports contract monitoring and data extraction for in-depth examination.

Thomson Reuters' newly launched AI tools, as well as those in the pipeline, are all developed using the state-of-the-art Thomson Reuters Generative AI platform. Wong and Dahn shed light on the benefits of this platform, stating, 'It's a cloud-native technology platform that follows an API-first development approach and incorporates Thomson Reuters UX and design systems. By using reusable components as building blocks, this platform enables us to swiftly expand our AI product offerings. With a strong emphasis on privacy compliance and reliability, the Thomson Reuters Generative AI platform provides a safe and powerful environment for development.'

A close-up of a lawyer's hand typing a complex legal question on a keyboard, utilizing the natural language feature of Thomson Reuters' AI tools. (Photo taken with a Sony Alpha a7 III)

In conclusion, Thomson Reuters has embarked on a groundbreaking journey with the launch of their generative AI tools for legal research. By seamlessly integrating AI into their platform, the company empowers legal professionals with unprecedented speed, accuracy, and efficiency. This revolution ensures that attorneys can devote their time to high-value work, secure in the knowledge that they have tapped into the most trusted and reliable legal content available.

Stay tuned as Thomson Reuters continues to reshape the legal landscape with their tireless pursuit of cutting-edge advancements in AI.