In a riveting address during the NBA Barnawa Branch Law Week, Chukwuka Ikwuazom, SAN, Partner at Aluko & Oyebode, delved into the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in reshaping Nigeria’s legal landscape. His illuminating discourse provided insights into the rapid integration of AI within the legal profession, heralding new areas of legal expertise while flagging ethical considerations in the AI legal frontier.
Ikwuazom led his audience on a chronological journey, juxtaposing the traditional legal practice of the past with the AI-driven present. Highlighting the seismic shift from paper-dominated offices to digital records, he emphasized AI’s ability to process vast data volumes swiftly, identifying patterns and opportunities previously overlooked.
Decoding AI’s capabilities, he underscored AI’s simulation of human intelligence, elucidating its role in legal research, contract review, drafting, dictation, transcription, e-discovery, and more. He cited AI-powered tools such as Law Pavilion case manager, Contract Genius, ChatGPT, and Otter.io, exemplifying the breadth of AI’s impact across legal functions.
The lecture emphasized how embracing AI presents myriad opportunities for legal professionals, ranging from increased efficiency and accuracy to enhanced accessibility for underserved communities. However, it also shed light on emergent legal complexities necessitated by AI’s growth.
Ikwuazom detailed several areas of law which will be very relevant in the face of AI’s expansion, delineating the following:
- Intellectual Property (IP): Addressing the challenges of determining ownership of AI-generated works as well as the right of AI to train on creative works.
- Contract Law: Advising on AI-negotiated contracts and their enforceability as well as other contracts relating to AI.
- Tort Law: Defining liability for harm caused by AI, including physical, emotional, or reputational damage.
- Cybersecurity and Data Privacy: Navigating data protection issues arising from AI’s handling of sensitive information as well as the safe in the use of AI.
- Regulatory Compliance: Assisting industries in adhering to sector-specific regulations necessitated by AI’s impact.
These emergent areas underscored the legal complexities requiring specialized expertise as AI becomes more integrated into everyday life.
The lecture concluded by highlighting ethical concerns surrounding AI, including data privacy, bias, transparency, and human oversight. Ikwuazom outlined approaches like ethical guidelines, education, diversity in data, human-centered AI design, and public engagement to address these concerns.
Chukwuka Ikwuazom’s address painted a vivid picture of AI’s transformative power within the legal profession, delineating the growing scope for legal expertise while emphasizing the imperative of ethical considerations in AI integration.
The NBA Barnawa Branch Law Week thus provided a stage for a comprehensive exploration of AI’s disruptive potential, illuminating pathways for lawyers to navigate the burgeoning AI landscape while addressing pertinent ethical and legal intricacies.
