Big Four firm PwC has announced a global partnership with AI start-up Harvey to leverage its platform for use by its legal services team, following a similar move by global law firm Allen & Overy, which partnered with Harvey earlier in March.
The AI start-up company is built on OpenAI and ChatGPT technology and backed by the OpenAI start-up fund, building on the global explosion of interest in generative AI which has been featured in everything from social media profiles to ‘deepfake’ images of public officials and celebrities. The Harvey platform uses machine learning, natural language processing and data analytics to sift through a vast amount of legal data to automate and enhance various aspects of legal work, providing insights and recommendations that free human workers to focus on more complex and meaningful efforts.
While the nascent technology is groundbreaking in its reach and effectiveness, it is still very much in development, leading to highly publicized flaws such as blatant factual errors, confusing and conflicting statements as well as downright bizarre interactions in some implementations. Harvey’s legal output will still be overseen and reviewed by PwC professionals, and the combination of AI technology and staff expertise is expected to cause a shift in the firm’s problem-solving capabilities.
“Harvey will transform the way we provide legal solutions for clients across the globe. The Harvey platform provides a generational leap forward for our legal professionals in terms of insights, research and analysis,” said PwC global legal business solutions leader Tony O’Malley. “Combining our deep expertise with cutting-edge AI technology heralds a paradigm shift in the way that we solve complex problems for our clients.”
According to PwC, Harvey will be utilized to support many of its global clients, enhancing the abilities of its global network of more than 4,000 legal professionals to deliver technology-enhanced legal solutions in areas like regulatory compliance, contract analysis, claims management, due diligence and other legal advisory and consulting services. The firm will also work with Harvey to take the platform to market, in addition to developing and training its own AI models to create customized products and services.
