078 | 🧑‍✈️✈️ Copilot

In today’s Brainyacts we:

1. look at the Thomson Reuters / Microsoft Word plugin

2. explain the Coach/Mentor persona w/ use cases/prompts

3. learn that OpenAI may leave the EU

4. use AI to trade crypto

5. realize AI is already in the justice systems and the risks

6. update you on CA Bar and the ABA efforts to develop GenAI guidance

👋 A special Hi There! to NEW SUBSCRIBERS.
To reach previous posts, go here.

🧑‍✈️✈️ Major Update to Office 365 with Westlaw, Practical Law, and Legal Drafting Plugin for Copilot

Working with Microsoft, Thomson Reuters has developed a contract drafting solution, powered by its legal products and content, and Copilot for Word. Delivering users with a draft working document and access to trusted content right where work happens – in Microsoft Word, professionals can use their expertise to edit, validate, and build the final document with integrated access to Thomson Reuters knowledge, content, and AI technology.

For those that might not have heard yet, Microsoft 365 Copilot is a chatbot powered by AI technology that helps you be more productive and use your time more efficiently. It can turn your words into actions, such as creating documents, scheduling meetings, or sending emails. Think of it as a ChatGPT designed within the Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook, etc. It will be rolling out soon, but there is no definite time as of yet.

I made an 8-min video on this containing both the Microsoft demo at its event yesterday along with TR’s demo.

Here is the link to the official TR press release.

Also note that TR is on record with investing over $100 million annually to further its AI capabilities.

😉 The Coach/Mentor Persona

The Power of Personas: As you continue on your journey with ChatGPT-like tools, it's important to recognize the influence of personas in shaping your experience. While advanced users can provide detailed characteristics and assign roles to ChatGPT explicitly, it is equally important for beginners and intermediate users, such as legal professionals, to maintain a clear understanding of the persona they want to engage with.

By adhering to a specific persona and staying mindful of it, you train yourself on how to effectively interact with AI. This approach empowers you to optimize the AI's responses and overcome the challenge of receiving generic or non-specific outputs.

On Monday, I worked through the Intern/Assistant persona, today we tackle the Coach/Mentor persona.

Embracing the Coach/Mentor Persona:

One particularly valuable persona to consider, especially for professionals of all types in legal services, is that of a Coach or Mentor.

By envisioning ChatGPT as your trusted advisor, you can tap into its abilities to provide guidance, offer insights, and support your professional growth.

However, it's crucial to remember that ChatGPT's counsel is based on patterns in the data it was trained on, rather than personal experience or emotion. Also, remember you can interact with tools like ChatGPT more safely by anonymizing the information.

🚨 Also the example prompts I share below are not the exact prompts I would use – that would take too much space here. So, look at these as seed prompts – craft them and add the details that will make them more useful to you.

With this in mind, let's explore the key tasks and attributes of the ChatGPT Coach/Mentor persona, tailored to the legal context.

1. Brainstorming Legal Strategies: Help you brainstorm innovative legal strategies or solutions to complex legal problems. Pose questions like, "What are some novel approaches to protecting intellectual property in the digital age?" or "Can you suggest creative litigation strategies for a high-profile case involving intellectual property infringement between a company in Brazil and the other in South Africa?"

2. Motivation for Legal Projects: Ask for a pep talk or motivational quote tailored to the legal profession, such as, "I'm feeling overwhelmed with this merger negotiation on behalf of my client. Can you provide some words of encouragement to stay focused and confident?" Or “I am struggling to keep my temper and composure working with people who have their own agendas and are preventing me from doing the work I know needs to be done. I am worried I will be judged by this and I can’t really call out the people that are working against me without looking like a jerk.”

3. Feedback on Legal Plans: Seek insights on potential pitfalls, risks, or alternative perspectives related to your legal strategies. For example, you might ask, "I plan to structure a complex licensing agreement in the solar distribution market. What are some potential legal implications or clauses I should consider?"

4. Explaining Legal Concepts: Request clear and concise explanations of legal principles or frameworks, such as, "Can you explain [term or concept] in simple terms?" ChatGPT will provide accessible explanations tailored to the legal context.

5. Goal Setting and Planning in Legal Practice: Set goals and develop strategic plans for your legal practice. Discuss long-term career objectives or business growth goals and seek guidance on the steps to take or potential challenges to anticipate. For example, you could ask, "I want to expand my legal practice into international markets. Can you help me create a roadmap for success?"

6. Legal Problem Solving: The Coach/Mentor persona can help you approach the problem from different angles and explore creative legal solutions. For instance, you might ask, "I'm dealing with a contract dispute. Can you provide insights into potential negotiation strategies or alternative dispute resolution options?"

7. Career Development in the Legal Field: Seek advice on career choices, skill acquisition, or ways to differentiate yourself as a legal professional. Ask questions like, "What are some effective strategies for building a strong personal brand as a lawyer?" Or, “I want to find a pathway from working in a law firm to becoming a member of an in-house team.”

8. Personal Growth and Well-being in a Legal Career: Discuss challenges, aspirations, or ways to improve your professional satisfaction, and seek insights or strategies from ChatGPT. For example, you could ask, "How can I effectively manage stress and prevent burnout as a legal professional?"

Now these are just examples as I stated above but hopefully they generate ideas for you on how to use tools like ChatGPT in new and meaningful ways.

News you can Use: 

OpenAI May Leave the EU Due to Regulatory Issues

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said Wednesday his company could “cease operating” in the European Union if it is unable to comply with the provisions of new artificial intelligence legislation that the bloc is currently preparing.

AI Can Generate a Trading Edge in Crypto Markets

Large language models like ChatGPT could supercharge sentiment analysis, a key aspect of trading.

AI is already being used in the legal system—we need to pay more attention to how we use it (2 related pieces)

The California State Bar’s guidance on generative AI

The Bar is crafting a comprehensive guidance on AI use in the legal profession, considering its potential benefits and pitfalls.

In fact, earlier I was on a call as part of the American Bar Association (ABA) Center for Innovation, examining the challenges and opportunities of generative AI in the legal market. I look forward to sharing insights and updates from this exciting discussion in the near future.

DISCLAIMER: None of this is legal advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not legal advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any legal decisions. Please /be careful and do your own research.8