Let’s take a few minutes to step back and look at the broader picture to see where AI is headed. Artificial intelligence isn’t just logging into ChatGPT or other LLMs to prompt them so they can provide intelligent output that helps us do what we do more efficiently, creatively, or strategically.
AI is physically becoming a part of the environment we work in. From smart glasses to AI-powered earbuds, ambient AI represents a significant shift in how we interact with technology, and it’s one that every legal professional should understand.
Imagine walking out of a client meeting and your ambient AI device has already drafted a follow-up plan, including next steps and key deadlines. Or maybe you come out of a deposition and your ambient AI has already analyzed the transcript of the deposition to find inconsistencies or risky language. That’s the power of ambient AI, and it’s already here.
Ambient AI is artificial intelligence that is always on. It’s quietly listening and even observing. It is supporting you in the background. It is proactive. It examines the context of your situation, including where you are, what you are doing, who you are talking to, the details of the discussion, its implications, and how your client is feeling. It takes in the world around you. It’s becoming more common by the day and smarter by the minute.
Let’s take healthcare. When you go to the doctor and notice they are typing notes on a keyboard instead of focusing on you, ambient AI can change that. Some are already using devices that listen during the visit, transcribe the conversation, summarize the diagnosis, flag symptoms and issues that might have been missed, and update your chart. That allows doctors to truly listen and be present with you as the patient.
Now, picture that same technology inside a law firm. Some firms are already experimenting with practice management systems that include ambient features. These tools capture and organize client conversations automatically, drafting follow-ups, summarizing next steps and deadlines, finding relevant case law on the spot, drafting a course of action, and even creating team debriefs. All of this is only with your permission, of course.
When I attended the Women + AI Conference at Vanderbilt Law School several months ago, after her session, one speaker shared that she could see her presentation slides right in her smart glasses. No glancing down, no side screens, just seamless delivery. She was smart to tell us after she finished her presentation because the entire room was nothing short of amazed and curious, and they wanted to know more. We had many questions! This type of technology is already in use and serves as a precursor to ambient AI, which is always with you.
Think about something similar in a legal setting: Smart glasses feeding you case law while you and/or your clients speak, or earbuds offering talking points you might have missed in your presentation to a potential client. These ambient tools may live in devices you wear or carry. They could be something that sits on your desk, or even pinned discreetly to your clothing. It won’t necessarily need a screen or keyboard to assist you.
OpenAI recently acquired the design firm co-founded by Jony (“Johnny”) Ive for over $6 billion. Jony is the man behind Apple’s most iconic products. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has tapped him to develop a new type of always-on ambient AI device, something you could carry or wear that blends seamlessly into daily life. It won’t be a phone or a laptop. It’ll be something altogether different.
The project is highly secretive, but Altman and Ive are investing heavily to get it right. While it may take a year or more, the goal is to create a tool that accompanies you, organizes your business and personal life (if you choose to), and interacts discreetly, not intrusively.
This shift from you and your team “searching and responding” to your AI being able to “oversee and assist” is transformative, but it comes with risk. When AI is always listening, confidentiality and ethics are very important.
Lawyers must ask:
- Where is this data going?
- Who has access to it?
- Are these tools compliant with our ethical obligations?
Several state bar associations are developing guidance for transcription technologies and ambient AI. As legal professionals, we all need to stay current and cautious.
Ambient AI isn’t something on the horizon. It’s already here. The question is whether your firm is prepared to use it wisely. Start by identifying the most routine, manual aspects of your day, such as note-taking, follow-ups, interview processes, and repetitive communication. These are perfect starting points for introducing ambient AI, as well as generative AI without ambient features.
My constant reminder during AI discussions and consulting is to always, for now, keep a human in the loop. AI is powerful, but human oversight remains essential for ensuring accuracy and ethical compliance.
