I know, I know. We’re all already sick of hearing about robot lawyers and how artificial intelligence is the next new thing that will change the practice of law.

Eric Laughlin

However, when I learned that no less a bastion of legal publishing and technology than Thomson Reuters was getting into the AI game, I was intrigued.

In January, TR announced that it was collaborating with IBM’s Watson — the computer that famously won Jeopardy! — to develop and enhance legal products, with the first Watson-fueled legal product to be unveiled later this year.

So for the Law Technology Now podcast that I cohost with Monica Bay, I invited Eric Laughlin to fill us in on TR’s plans. Eric — whose formal title at TR is managing director of the corporate counsel segment and general manager for legal managed services — is leading TR’s Watson initiative for the legal sector.

We ended up having a broad-ranging conversation about AI in the legal field generally and more-specific discussion about TR’s plans and initiatives.

Listen via Soundcloud above or at the Legal Talk Network.

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Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.