EP290 The Future of AI & the Law From the Birthplace of AI With Sean McDonald

In Episode 290 I engage AI guru and past LMIPodcast guest Sean McDonald in an insightful discussion on the transformative impact of AI on the legal field by taking a step back to chat on the broader history of AI’s evolution in modern life. Broadcasting from the Santa Monica Pier, this final “LMIPodcast on the Road” segment seemed fitting to end at the Pacific Ocean at the end of Route 66 itself. The Pier provided a good backdrop for a conversation traversing the evolution of AI in California in which Sean emphasized how regions like Venice and Santa Monica have influenced AI advancements.

Our discourse further delved into the implications of AI for the legal profession, highlighting that AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and DeepSeek, offer supplementary support but are unlikely to replace legal professionals, something many fear. Sean postulated that AI’s role will spur increased demand for legal services as it aids clients in identifying legal complexities needing professional intervention (see Jevons Paradox). He also stressed the significance of lawyers learning coding basics, like Python, for leveraging AI in legal practices efficiently. The episode wraps up by exploring future AI potentials, from adaptive learning in education to AI development in areas like lie-detection capabilities, to AI’s imminent era of pervasive AI integration in ever part of our lives, not just the law.