Introducing Harvey AI: Revolutionizing the Legal Field with Artificial Intelligence

By Colleen Williams|May 25, 2023

artificial intelligence and the legal industry

In the ever-evolving landscape of AI tools for the legal profession, a remarkable contender has emerged—Harvey AI, an AI solution specifically created for the legal profession. Backed by a recent investment from Open.AI, the creators of ChatGPT, many speculate on the implications of this technology for the future of law.

Although Harvey AI is still in its beta phase, only time will reveal the true impact it will have on the legal industry. However, at present, let’s dive into what we already know about Harvey AI and how legal professionals can explore and leverage it.

How does Harvey AI work?

So, what exactly does Harvey AI do? It’s built on Open.AI’s GPT AI, just like ChatGPT, but Harvey AI is tailored for legal work. It combines general internet data from the GPT model with legal-specific data, including case law and reference materials. When engaged by a law firm, Harvey AI undergoes further training using the firm’s own work products and templates. This process familiarizes Harvey AI with the firm’s specific practices and enables it to provide tailored assistance.

Harvey AI’s Capabilities

Harvey AI’s capabilities include:

Contract analysis,
Due diligence,
Litigation,
and regulatory compliance.

By leveraging AI algorithms, Harvey AI can analyze data, generate insights, provide recommendations, and make predictions to help lawyers deliver faster and more cost-effective solutions for their clients. The AI tool has shown the ability to work across multiple languages and practice areas, delivering exceptional efficiency and intelligence.

Funding Received in December 2022

In December 2022, Open.AI unveiled the Open.AI Startup Fund, an initiative aimed at investing $100 million in small, early-stage AI startups to foster their positive impact on the world. As one of the first four recipients of this fund, Harvey AI received $5 million. While information on Harvey AI’s offerings is limited on their website, Open.AI describes it as having an intuitive interface that facilitates all legal workflows through powerful generative language models. By harnessing AI capabilities, Harvey AI assists lawyers in research, drafting, analysis, and communication.

Further bolstering their growth, Harvey AI successfully secured $21 million in Series A funding led by Sequoia Capital in April 2023. This additional investment indicates the promising trajectory of Harvey AI and its potential to reshape the legal landscape.

Who’s partnering with Harvey AI?

In February 2023, Allen & Overy, one of the world’s largest law firms, announced its partnership with Harvey AI. Since November 2022, over 3,500 of their lawyers have tested Harvey AI, posing 40,000 questions during their day-to-day work. The results have been impressive, with David Wakeling, the head of Allen & Overy’s Markets Innovation Group, expressing his astonishment at the capabilities of Harvey AI.

And while Allen & Overy was the first law firm to partner with Harvey AI, it certainly isn’t the last. Harvey AI is actively collaborating with other law firms to develop customized tools. Notably, on March 15, 2023, PwC announced a strategic partnership with Harvey AI, further solidifying its influence in the legal field.

Benefits of Harvey AI

The potential benefits of AI in the legal domain, exemplified by Harvey AI, are profound. Utilizing AI to support research, drafting, and other routine legal tasks has the potential to save law firms significant time and reduce clients’ expenses.

While AI tools like Harvey AI offer numerous benefits in terms of time-saving, cost reduction, and improved client satisfaction, it’s important to note that AI is not a complete replacement for a lawyer’s expertise and judgment. Responsible use of AI in the legal field involves careful consideration of ethical, security, and confidentiality implications. Lawyers should consult their state’s Rules of Professional Conduct and thoroughly vet AI vendors before implementing such tools. Ultimately, AI should be seen as a valuable tool to augment legal professionals’ capabilities rather than replace them entirely.