Future of jurisprudence: AI demonstration and discussion in Austria

Future of jurisprudence: AI demonstration and discussion in Austria

Recently, many prominent faces from the legal and tax industry in Austria gathered to take part in the LexCon Tour, which kicked off in Vienna and then continued in Innsbruck, Linz and Graz. The events revolved around the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in these specialist areas and offered those in attendance the opportunity to experience the new AI assistant from LexisNexis and learn more about its functions.

The LexCon Tour kicked off after the influential Compliance Solution Day 2024. It was hosted by LexisNexis, a leading provider of information solutions for legal and tax professionals. During the events, participants were not only able to experience a live demonstration, but also take part in a high-profile panel discussion that addressed the opportunities and challenges of AI in law.

Experts involved and their perspectives

Among the discussants were well-known personalities such asSusanne Mortimore, the CEO of LexisNexis Austria, andAndreas Geyrecker, Director of Product Management. Also practitioners likeAlexander Hiersche, lawyer and partner at the Haslinger Nagele law firm, provided their insights. Hiersche noted that while AI offers opportunities, human control over outcomes will always remain necessary. “AI is here to stay, but it will not replace legal advisors,” he explained.

Another central figure,Kathrin Hagenauer, the director of content at LexisNexis Austria, emphasized that the quality assurance of AI outputs is supported by scientific approaches, especially in cooperation with the WU Legal Tech Center and Stanford University. This is intended to ensure that lawyers receive reliable information and can carry out their work efficiently.

Critical voices also had their say in the discussion.George Huberfrom GPK Rechtsanwälte said that the integration of AI into everyday professional life is unavoidable. “The question of whether AI is a threat or an opportunity does not arise – anyone who doesn’t go along will be gone at some point,” says Huber.

Innovative product presentation

Presented at the beginning of the eventsAndreas Geyreckerthe new AI assistant Lexis+ AI, which will be offered in Austria next winter. According to Geyrecker, the assistant will offer features such as intelligent chatting, drafting legal arguments and summarizing decisions. This innovation is intended to support lawyers by taking over routine tasks, leaving more room for strategic considerations and creative activities.

Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with the majority optimistic about the future. In addition to personal experiences, those present were also able to gain practical insight by trying out the tool during a live demonstration.

The LexCon tour impressively shows that the legal and tax industry in Austria is ready to face the challenges of digitalization and artificial intelligence. The development of the new AI assistant is seen as an important means of promoting the introduction of these technologies into everyday legal activities.

For more information about the event and the technologies on display, visit the website www.leadersnet.at.