{"id":117873,"date":"2025-05-05T16:02:51","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T00:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/05\/05\/cat-casey-on-ai-dragons-and-the-future-of-legal-technology\/"},"modified":"2025-05-05T16:02:51","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T00:02:51","slug":"cat-casey-on-ai-dragons-and-the-future-of-legal-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/05\/05\/cat-casey-on-ai-dragons-and-the-future-of-legal-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Cat Casey On AI, Dragons, And The Future Of Legal Technology"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-472594 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/08\/China-Chinese-dragon-300x201.jpg?resize=300%2C201&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"China Chinese dragon in front of blue sky\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" title=\"\">When you talk to Cat Casey, you quickly realize she\u2019s not just an expert in AI and legal technology \u2014 she\u2019s a force of nature. As the chief growth officer at Reveal and a globally recognized voice in legal AI, Cat brings a unique blend of humor, insight, and pop culture references to a field that desperately needs all three. In our recent conversation, Cat unpacked the transformative potential of AI in the legal world, her favorite metaphors (spoiler: \u201c<\/span><span>Game of Thrones\u201d<\/span><span> plays a starring role), and why lawyers need to embrace change \u2014 or risk being left behind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Watch the full conversation here:<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/m5WfT0UZQ8M?si=TjHa1b0xLzkU260F\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <b>AI &amp; The Future of Legal: Challenges and Opportunities<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><b>Dragons And The Dance Of Data<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Cat\u2019s chapter in our book, \u201c<\/span><span>Legal Operations in the Age of AI and Data<\/span><span>,\u201d is everything you\u2019d expect from her: sharp, insightful, and wildly entertaining. Using <\/span><i><span>\u201c<\/span><\/i><span>Game of Thrones<\/span><span>\u201d as a metaphor, she breaks down the high-stakes world of eDiscovery. \u201cIt\u2019s all about finding that one piece of information that can change everything,\u201d she said. \u201cJust like in Westeros, one secret can shift the balance of power in litigation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The dragons in her analogy are eDiscovery tools, which start as helpful companions but can grow into powerful beasts that transform the game entirely. \u201cIf you\u2019re not prepared to ride the dragon, you\u2019re going to get burned,\u201d Cat quipped. It\u2019s a vivid reminder that while technology can be a lawyer\u2019s greatest ally, it requires skill, strategy, and a touch of bravery to wield effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>AI As Fire: A Transformational Force<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>When it comes to the impact of generative AI, Cat doesn\u2019t mince words. She likened it to fire \u2014 a transformative force that changes how humans interact, work, and live. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just the next internet or the next printing press,\u201d she explained. \u201cIt\u2019s reshaping everything, including how we think about information and decision-making.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>For Cat, the speed of AI adoption is both thrilling and daunting. \u201cI\u2019ve spent 20 years pushing the rock up the hill, trying to get people to embrace AI. Suddenly, the rock is rolling on its own \u2014 and fast.\u201d The challenge now is helping lawyers and legal professionals ride the wave without being overwhelmed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What Keeps Cat Up At Night<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Cat isn\u2019t losing sleep, but she\u2019s deeply curious about who will thrive in this AI-driven future and who will be left behind. With studies predicting that up to 70% of legal work could be automated, the stakes are high. \u201cRobot lawyers aren\u2019t going to replace us,\u201d she said. \u201cBut lawyers who use AI effectively are absolutely going to replace those who don\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Her biggest concern isn\u2019t fear or ethics \u2014 it\u2019s inertia. \u201cLawyers are used to doing things the same way. AI requires us to rethink how we work, and that\u2019s hard for a lot of people.\u201d She\u2019s on a mission to break through that resistance and help legal professionals see the opportunities AI brings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The Rise Of The \u2018Liar\u2019s Dividend\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>As generative AI and deepfakes become more advanced, Cat sees a major challenge for the legal system: trust. \u201cWe\u2019re entering an era where video and photo evidence isn\u2019t automatically reliable,\u201d she said. She pointed to cases where defendants have claimed that incriminating videos were deepfakes. \u201cIt\u2019s already happening, and it\u2019s going to bottleneck the legal process.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The solution? New tools and expertise to authenticate digital evidence. \u201cWe\u2019re going to need a whole industry dedicated to verifying what\u2019s real. It\u2019s going to get messy before it gets better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>How To Future-Proof Your Career<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Cat\u2019s advice for lawyers navigating this AI revolution is straightforward: be curious, start experimenting, and find your people. \u201cI tell everyone to start small. Use ChatGPT before you Google something. Play around with MidJourney. Get comfortable with the tools, even for low-risk tasks like finding a recipe or researching a vacation spot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>She also emphasized the importance of building a community. \u201cFind your tribe. Surround yourself with people who are passionate about AI and willing to share what they know. No one can keep up with this pace of change alone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Most importantly, Cat urged lawyers to lean into their humanity. \u201cAI is a tool, not a replacement for you. Your expertise, judgment, and creativity are what make you valuable. Use AI to amplify those strengths, not replace them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The Final Word<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Talking to Cat is like sitting in a masterclass on the future of legal technology \u2014 with a lot of laughs along the way. Whether she\u2019s comparing eDiscovery to dragon riding or urging lawyers to embrace their inner dork (her words!), her message is clear: the AI revolution is here, and it\u2019s time to dive in. As Cat put it, \u201cThis isn\u2019t the time to sit on the sidelines. Get curious, start experimenting, and get ready to ride the dragon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Watch the full conversation here:<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/m5WfT0UZQ8M?si=TjHa1b0xLzkU260F\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <b>AI &amp; The Future of Legal: Challenges and Opportunities<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><strong><em><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-504327 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/06\/Olga-Mack-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Olga Mack\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" title=\"\">Olga V. Mack <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>is a Fellow at CodeX, The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics, and a Generative AI Editor at law.MIT. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She authored\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Get-Board-Earning-Ticket-Corporate\/dp\/1949991407\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Fundamentals-Smart-Contract-Security-Richard-ebook\/dp\/B07S8YF27G\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong>, and\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Blockchain-Value-Transforming-Business-Communities\/dp\/1952538246\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blockchain Value: Transforming Business Models, Society, and Communities<\/strong><\/em><\/a><strong><em>.\u00a0She is working on three books: <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>Visual IQ for Lawyers (ABA 2024),\u00a0The Rise of Product Lawyers: An Analytical Framework to Systematically Advise Your Clients Throughout the Product Lifecycle (Globe Law and Business 2024), and Legal Operations in the Age of AI and Data (Globe Law and Business 2024). You can follow Olga on <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/olgamack\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>LinkedIn<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em> and Twitter @olgavmack.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/05\/cat-casey-on-ai-dragons-and-the-future-of-legal-technology\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cat Casey On AI, Dragons, And The Future Of Legal Technology<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-472594 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/08\/China-Chinese-dragon-300x201.jpg?resize=300%2C201&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"China Chinese dragon in front of blue sky\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" title=\"\">When you talk to Cat Casey, you quickly realize she\u2019s not just an expert in AI and legal technology \u2014 she\u2019s a force of nature. As the chief growth officer at Reveal and a globally recognized voice in legal AI, Cat brings a unique blend of humor, insight, and pop culture references to a field that desperately needs all three. In our recent conversation, Cat unpacked the transformative potential of AI in the legal world, her favorite metaphors (spoiler: \u201cGame of Thrones\u201d plays a starring role), and why lawyers need to embrace change \u2014 or risk being left behind.<\/p>\n<p>Watch the full conversation here:<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/m5WfT0UZQ8M?si=TjHa1b0xLzkU260F\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <b>AI &amp; The Future of Legal: Challenges and Opportunities<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/m5WfT0UZQ8M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"> <\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><b>Dragons And The Dance Of Data<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Cat\u2019s chapter in our book, \u201cLegal Operations in the Age of AI and Data,\u201d is everything you\u2019d expect from her: sharp, insightful, and wildly entertaining. Using <i>\u201c<\/i>Game of Thrones\u201d as a metaphor, she breaks down the high-stakes world of eDiscovery. \u201cIt\u2019s all about finding that one piece of information that can change everything,\u201d she said. \u201cJust like in Westeros, one secret can shift the balance of power in litigation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The dragons in her analogy are eDiscovery tools, which start as helpful companions but can grow into powerful beasts that transform the game entirely. \u201cIf you\u2019re not prepared to ride the dragon, you\u2019re going to get burned,\u201d Cat quipped. It\u2019s a vivid reminder that while technology can be a lawyer\u2019s greatest ally, it requires skill, strategy, and a touch of bravery to wield effectively.<\/p>\n<p><b>AI As Fire: A Transformational Force<\/b><\/p>\n<p>When it comes to the impact of generative AI, Cat doesn\u2019t mince words. She likened it to fire \u2014 a transformative force that changes how humans interact, work, and live. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just the next internet or the next printing press,\u201d she explained. \u201cIt\u2019s reshaping everything, including how we think about information and decision-making.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For Cat, the speed of AI adoption is both thrilling and daunting. \u201cI\u2019ve spent 20 years pushing the rock up the hill, trying to get people to embrace AI. Suddenly, the rock is rolling on its own \u2014 and fast.\u201d The challenge now is helping lawyers and legal professionals ride the wave without being overwhelmed.<\/p>\n<p><b>What Keeps Cat Up At Night<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Cat isn\u2019t losing sleep, but she\u2019s deeply curious about who will thrive in this AI-driven future and who will be left behind. With studies predicting that up to 70% of legal work could be automated, the stakes are high. \u201cRobot lawyers aren\u2019t going to replace us,\u201d she said. \u201cBut lawyers who use AI effectively are absolutely going to replace those who don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her biggest concern isn\u2019t fear or ethics \u2014 it\u2019s inertia. \u201cLawyers are used to doing things the same way. AI requires us to rethink how we work, and that\u2019s hard for a lot of people.\u201d She\u2019s on a mission to break through that resistance and help legal professionals see the opportunities AI brings.<\/p>\n<p><b>The Rise Of The \u2018Liar\u2019s Dividend\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n<p>As generative AI and deepfakes become more advanced, Cat sees a major challenge for the legal system: trust. \u201cWe\u2019re entering an era where video and photo evidence isn\u2019t automatically reliable,\u201d she said. She pointed to cases where defendants have claimed that incriminating videos were deepfakes. \u201cIt\u2019s already happening, and it\u2019s going to bottleneck the legal process.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The solution? New tools and expertise to authenticate digital evidence. \u201cWe\u2019re going to need a whole industry dedicated to verifying what\u2019s real. It\u2019s going to get messy before it gets better.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>How To Future-Proof Your Career<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Cat\u2019s advice for lawyers navigating this AI revolution is straightforward: be curious, start experimenting, and find your people. \u201cI tell everyone to start small. Use ChatGPT before you Google something. Play around with MidJourney. Get comfortable with the tools, even for low-risk tasks like finding a recipe or researching a vacation spot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She also emphasized the importance of building a community. \u201cFind your tribe. Surround yourself with people who are passionate about AI and willing to share what they know. No one can keep up with this pace of change alone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Most importantly, Cat urged lawyers to lean into their humanity. \u201cAI is a tool, not a replacement for you. Your expertise, judgment, and creativity are what make you valuable. Use AI to amplify those strengths, not replace them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>The Final Word<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Talking to Cat is like sitting in a masterclass on the future of legal technology \u2014 with a lot of laughs along the way. Whether she\u2019s comparing eDiscovery to dragon riding or urging lawyers to embrace their inner dork (her words!), her message is clear: the AI revolution is here, and it\u2019s time to dive in. As Cat put it, \u201cThis isn\u2019t the time to sit on the sidelines. Get curious, start experimenting, and get ready to ride the dragon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Watch the full conversation here:<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/m5WfT0UZQ8M?si=TjHa1b0xLzkU260F\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> <b>AI &amp; The Future of Legal: Challenges and Opportunities<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><em><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-504327 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/06\/Olga-Mack-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Olga Mack\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" title=\"\">Olga V. Mack <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>is a Fellow at CodeX, The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics, and a Generative AI Editor at law.MIT. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She authored\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Get-Board-Earning-Ticket-Corporate\/dp\/1949991407\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Fundamentals-Smart-Contract-Security-Richard-ebook\/dp\/B07S8YF27G\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong>, and\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Blockchain-Value-Transforming-Business-Communities\/dp\/1952538246\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blockchain Value: Transforming Business Models, Society, and Communities<\/strong><\/em><\/a><strong><em>.\u00a0She is working on three books: <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>Visual IQ for Lawyers (ABA 2024),\u00a0The Rise of Product Lawyers: An Analytical Framework to Systematically Advise Your Clients Throughout the Product Lifecycle (Globe Law and Business 2024), and Legal Operations in the Age of AI and Data (Globe Law and Business 2024). You can follow Olga on <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/olgamack\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>LinkedIn<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em> and Twitter @olgavmack.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you talk to Cat Casey, you quickly realize she\u2019s not just an expert in AI and legal technology \u2014 she\u2019s a force of nature. As the chief growth officer at Reveal and a globally recognized voice in legal AI, Cat brings a unique blend of humor, insight, and pop culture references to a field [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":117825,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xira.com\/p\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Olga-Mack-150x150-msKuxS.jpeg?fit=150%2C150&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117873"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117873\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}