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24 P E E R T O P E E R : I L T A ' S Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E | S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 AI and Speech Recognition in the Courts Many jurisdictions have relied on audio recording with subsequent transcription for years. It is important to call out that, other than in trials, there is a very low demand for rapid turnaround of accurate transcripts of court proceedings. Regarding the record of most proceedings, the courts generally focus on the capture and archiving of the event. In fact, some jurisdictions rely completely on the audio or audio/video record of the proceeding, with no transcription unless explicitly required by exception. Where AI speech recognition can be applied is in the semi- automatic, human-in-the-loop process noted above that supports a more efficient transcription to be produced, when it does indeed need to be produced. Conclusion While AI can clearly assist a lawyer in mundane or repetitive tasks effectively, it cannot strategize, think creatively, negotiate or apply human common sense and judgment. This is, of course, better left to a human being. AI must be seen as a tool to optimize how we work, especially in the area of litigation, rather than a major revolution in what we do and how we do it. It cannot produce a legal strategy but can help bolster an attorney's arguments or evidence. AI is an amazing technology with many capabilities that will surely bring more effectiveness and advances in many aspects of our society. However, it won't replace certain jobs or certain roles since the incredible linguistic capabilities of the human mind have not been reproduced in the arena of machine learning and that is unlikely to arise for many years to come. As importantly, no technology will replace human instincts and ethical or moral considerations, especially when it comes to legal proceedings. While many of us are riding the hype curve with dramatic ideas of how AI will change the world, it's important to dive a little deeper to understand just where this technology will and will not impact our work – and just how that will come about. As we come down off the hype curve and recognize the practical limitations of AI, we will make more realistic and sound decisions on how to improve our work and our lives to reach a new plateau of productivity in which we enjoy a good balance of technology and human interaction to ensure the most effective outcomes. ILTA F E A T U R E S Tony Donofrio is the chief technology officer at Veritext Legal Solutions. In this role, he develops and supports the mission critical systems the company's clients, reporters and employees use every day. His focus is to ensure that clients and Veritext staff have the very best experience with easy to use, highly reliable and highly secure tools.

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