In this episode of 2030 Vision, Jen Leonard and Bridget McCormack explore OpenAI’s surprising executive reshuffle, Google's declining grip on search to the UK’s official authorization of Garfield Law, the first an AI-native law firm.

Jen and Bridget analyze the implications of Garfield AI's regulatory approval, the practical limits of paraprofessional models in the U.S., and how agile regulation could unlock innovation while maintaining public trust. They also examine the concept of Jae Um’s "Bionic Boutiques", law firms that blend elite legal expertise with AI-powered agents and debate how this model could redefine leverage, value, and access to justice.

They share personal insights on using AI to evaluate website quality and prepare for a live television interview, while reflecting on broader shifts in legal education, practice, and client service as the profession adapts to a world rapidly approaching AGI.

Episode Highlights:

(2:54) Bridget’s AI Aha! From foraging on the Appalachian Trail to prepping for live TV, Bridget shares how AI helped identify mushrooms and simulate interview feedback.

(4:48) Jen’s AI Aha! Jen runs her website through Ogilvy’s marketing taxonomy—then gets ChatGPT to tailor it for legal audiences. Game-changer for law firm sites.

(7:03) What Just Happened at OpenAI OpenAI appoints a second CEO. Are they splitting responsibilities ahead of AGI? And what does it mean for the future of applications?

(12:38) Google’s Antitrust Trial & Search Decline Apple execs reveal Google Search usage is dropping—for the first time in 20 years. Is AI replacing traditional search?

(15:58) Garfield AI: UK’s First AI-Only Law Firm Meet Garfield Law: approved by UK regulators to deliver legal services entirely through AI. What does this mean for U.S. regulation?

(29:58) Bionic Boutiques & the Future of Legal Practice Jae Um’s bold predictions: $10K/hour partners, AI agents doing associate work, and billion-dollar firms with zero overhead. Are bionic boutiques the next big shift?

Key Discussion Points:

• OpenAI's structural shakeup and the race toward AGI
• Google’s search engine under threat from AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity
• Regulatory differences between the U.S. and UK on legal AI tools
• Garfield Law: The first AI-native law firm approved to practice
• The future of legal service delivery: Bionic boutiques and paraprofessionals
• What legal education and junior roles might look like in an AI world

Keywords: AI in law, Garfield Law, OpenAI, AGI, regulation, bionic boutiques, legal tech, legal education, Google vs ChatGPT, access to justice, future of work

About the Podcast: 2030 Vision: AI and the Future of Law is your essential guide to how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal profession. Hosted by Bridget McCormack and Jen Leonard, this podcast dives into cutting-edge AI technologies, their applications, and the trends shaping the future of law. Join us to stay informed, inspired, and prepared for the AI revolution.

Produced by: Aaron Tran for the American Arbitration Association.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Description:

In this episode, Bridget McCormack and Jen Leonard explore a mind-bending new study where AI bots outperformed humans in changing people’s minds on Reddit — by a long shot. What does this mean for the legal profession, where persuasion is core to the craft?

From evaluating reasoning-first models like OpenAI’s new o3 and Google’s Gemini 2.5, to watching AI walk through logic, fix math errors, and even critique your work with a little snark, Bridget and Jen break down the rapid advancements redefining competence and advocacy in real time.

They also share how memory-enabled AI is reshaping their workflows, the rise of “AI bias” in AI-generated summaries, and the deep implications for lawyers, clients, and law students alike. If AI can generate more persuasive legal arguments — what’s left for us? And how should law schools adapt?

Episode Highlights:

3:54 - AI Aha! Moment: AI Spots Your Blind Spots and Helps You Improve

14:52 What Just Happened: Are We Already Living with AGI (Artificial General Intelligence)?

25:55 -Why AI Wins More Arguments Than Lawyers

Key Discussion Points:

• What the Reddit persuasion study reveals about AI’s rhetorical superpowers.
• How AI memory and voice interfaces are transforming legal workflows and personal insight.
• Why lawyers should expect clients, co-counsel, and judges to already be using AI.
• The double-edged sword of AI hallucinations in reasoning models — and how to prompt around them.
• Real-world use cases for AI-enhanced persuasive strategies in law.
• The future of legal education: How schools might teach persuasion differently in an AI-first world.
• Why lawyers may soon be responding to AI critiques of their own work product.

Keywords

AI persuasion, legal tech, reasoning models, ChatGPT memory, AGI, OpenAI o3, Gemini 2.5, Change My View study, AI hallucinations, legal argumentation, law school innovation, client communication, negotiation, voice mode AI, ElevenLabs, HeyGen, RAG, future of lawyering, professional skills, Reddit bots, rhetorical strategy, legal ethics

About the Podcast

2030 Vision: AI and the Future of Law is your essential guide to how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal profession. Hosted by Bridget McCormack and Jen Leonard, this podcast dives into cutting-edge AI technologies, their applications, and the trends shaping the future of law. Join us to stay informed, inspired, and prepared for the AI revolution.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it possible that not using AI could soon be seen as unethical for lawyers? Bridget McCormack and Jen Leonard dive into two recent Georgia cases where savvy use of AI helped lawyers win major verdicts and why these examples could signal a turning point in professional responsibility.

Along the way, Bridget shares her AI "aha" moment with ChatGPT acting as a woods guide (and porcupine expert), while Jen explores how AI’s voice mode turbocharged her workflow. They also unpack the provocative AI 2027 Report, which predicts a near-future explosion of superintelligent AI and its impact on law, society, and ethics.

From personal injury trials to global AI arms races, this episode challenges listeners to reimagine what “competence” looks like in a rapidly evolving profession and why AI isn’t just a tool, but a future teammate you can’t afford to ignore.

Episode Highlights:

• (02:54) Bridget’s AI Aha: Using ChatGPT as a nature guide and getting schooled on porcupines
• (05:49) Jen’s AI Aha: Voice-mode website editing and using ElevenLabs for hands-free learning
• (9:50) What Just Happened: Exploring the AI 2027 Report and the path to superintelligence
• (19:16) Lawyers, Ethics, and AI: Two Georgia cases show why ethical duties may be shifting
• (23:45) Rethinking Client Advocacy: Why using AI could become a new professional mandate

Key Discussion Points:

• How AI is changing everyday problem-solving and new ways AI assistants boost productivity and creativity in professional work.
• The AI 2027 Forecast: Why researchers believe super intelligent AI could arrive by 2027—and what that means for law and society.
• Two medical malpractice cases illustrate how AI-assisted research and storytelling can transform trial outcomes.
• Why integrating AI thoughtfully may soon be required for ethical, client-centered lawyering.
• What rising anxiety around AI means for lawyers and their clients.
• How AI levels the playing field for plaintiffs’ lawyers, solo practitioners, and small firms.

Keywords:

AI and law, legal ethics, AI 2027 report, superintelligence, legal tech, ChatGPT, ElevenLabs, legal innovation, plaintiff lawyering, change management, client-centered lawyering, trial strategy, research automation, professional responsibility, future of work, AI acceleration

About the Podcast:

2030 Vision: AI and the Future of Law is your essential guide to how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal profession. Hosted by Bridget McCormack and Jen Leonard, this podcast dives into cutting-edge AI technologies, their applications, and the trends shaping the future of law. Join us to stay informed, inspired, and prepared for the AI revolution.

Produced by: Aaron Tran for the American Arbitration Association.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.