Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, with the introduction of the latest search bot, 03-mini, Open AI is introducing (for now, to Pro users only), deep research, which does a deep dive into any project that can take ten minutes to create complete reports, memoranda, and other long form work product. Of course, a similar deep research project would take dozens of humans months to research and compile. My question is what are we humans going to do with ourselves, once these bots take over the heavy lifting? I wish I could afford the $200 a month for Chat GPt Pro, because I can’t wait to see if this new bot can be used to draft legal memoranda and appellate briefs. That would be very cool. Just load in the pleadings, motions, and current memos, and ask Chat GPT (Sunshine) to write a detailed long form memorandum or brief. Check the cites to avoid error, and save yourself, and you client, hundreds of hours of research costs. I predict that the use of Chat GPT and deep research will hasten the abandonment of the billable hour for lawyers, and increase the use of flat fees. It will also create a level playing field for solo and small firm lawyers to compete against armies of BigLaw lawyers and paralegals. In fact, I already am using 03-mini to create analysis of fact patterns and pleadings that would require me to hire several legal assistants or paralegals. AI won’t replace lawyers; but, it will give us a base product on which we can add our experience and ability to create a final product. Enhancement, not replacement. That is the future of AI assisted legal analysis and research.
