How eDiscovery Collab is working with Generative AI (GenAI)

eDiscovery Collab is leading the way in exploring how GenAI can solve problems for our clients – creating efficiencies, saving time and money, and improving accuracy. This is not new to us – it is how we have always approached helping our clients. GenAI is just the latest AI tool we are testing and working with to improve the eDiscovery process, alongside Nuix Neo Discover, RelativityOne, Everchron, Adobe and Microsoft.

Like others, we are building our knowledge and expertise of GenAI as it evolves, sometimes daily. Cutting through what is real or not in the GenAI evolution can be difficult. Our advantage is the eDiscovery team has been working with AI tools that pre-empted GenAI, such as Technology Assisted Review (TAR) and Continuous Active Learning (CAL), for years giving us the ability to assess when GenAI can add value to a process and workflow.

This is important because eDiscovery technology is already expensive and if we are adding a GenAI tool as an overlay, we want to be sure that it is delivering value to our clients.

Here is what we are doing at eDiscovery Collab:

1. We are not developing our own GenAI tools – yet. This may be something we look at in the future. As a boutique specialist eDiscovery firm, for now we do not have the development knowledge or capacity, so we are leaving this to the experts and sticking with what we do best - eDiscovery.

2. We are working closely with our existing partners, Nuix Neo Discover, RelativityOne, Everchron, Adobe and Microsoft, to be part of the conversation about development and adoption of GenAI tools for their platforms that will benefit our clients at a cost that makes the products accessible and appropriate for the Australian market.

eDiscovery Tips for Selecting AI Tools and Products

AI is most valuable when it solves the right kind of problem – one that is repeatable, time-consuming and consistent enough that automation makes sense.

Although we are constantly tempted by the bright, new shiny “GenAI” promises that are coming onto the market each week to change the world, we shake off the FOMO and remind ourselves that when you scratch the surface, not everything being offered as GenAI is really GenAI. It is important to understand the distinction and recognise where AI offerings might be rebranded as GenAI but don’t offer GenAI capabilities, particularly if you are being asked to pay more.

To stay focused on an AI path that will benefit our clients, before selecting any AI solution, we first identify and understand the problem by asking:

• What is the problem we are solving? Are time, money, or accuracy being lost? Is it a recurring problem?

• Why are we solving this?

• Who benefits from solving it?

• Is it a process issue, a people issue, or a problem that technology could genuinely help address?

Our approach is always human-first. Rather than jumping straight to a solution, we work closely with teams to deeply analyse the workflow. We listen, ask questions, and observe how the work is done.

Only when we fully understand the problem do we assess whether AI is a good fit, and if so, what kind.

The goal remains the same - always solve a real, measurable problem using purpose-built, intuitive tools that align with our workflows and are cost-effective.

What We Look for in AI Partners and Tools

We want solutions for our clients that are designed by people who understand not just the technology, but also the real-world problem so we ask:

• Do they truly understand our context, constraints, and goals?

• Are they listening, or just trying to sell a product?

• Have they involved subject matter experts in the development process?

This approach ensures that any AI we bring into the business is thoughtful, useful, and aligned with the way we work.

Most importantly, it must deliver real, tangible benefits for our clients.

Staying up to date

Our commitment to the development and governance of AI and GenAI in the legal industry in Australia is strong. Kate Clark is a member of the Queensland Law Society AI Advisory Working Group.  Kate and her team often act as beta testers for the eDiscovery product we use including testing and refining the GenAI offerings that are available now, or coming in the future.  Kate is often asked to present on GenAI and how it is augmenting our existing eDiscovery processes and workflows

We work with developers to test and enhance their products for the Australian market. Not every product will be fit for purpose and meet the requirements of the Australian court systems, protocols or disclosure governance. This is a threshold question we explore every time we are shown a new product – if there is still work to be done to meet these requirements, we press pause until these are satisfied.

When products satisfy these requirements, we work with the developers to test these in live scenarios to ensure they deliver the accuracy and efficiencies promised. This means when we recommend a new product to a client, we know that it will do what it says “on the box”.

Resources

Here are some of the website and other sources that we find helpful in monitoring AI updates in Australia and worldwide:

1.     Centre for Legal Innovation

2.     Law Council of Australia – Artificial Intelligence and the Legal Profession

3.     Queensland Law Society – AI Companion Guide

4.     Law Institute of Victoria – Artificial Intelligence Hub

5.     Law Society of New South Wales – AI for Legal Professionals