AI: Legal and Ethical Issues

The presentation explores the ethical, legal, and professional challenges of integrating artificial intelligence into legal practice. David Canton, Leader, Technology and Privacy Law and Intellectual Property Practice at Harrison Pensa LLP, examines critical issues such as copyright in AI training data and outputs, privacy and confidentiality concerns, embedded bias, and the reliability of AI-generated content. He warns that using open or free AI tools can expose client information and emphasizes lawyers’ obligations to maintain confidentiality, verify accuracy, and apply professional judgment. David Canton also discusses the concepts of “AI slop” and “work slop,” describing the proliferation of inaccurate AI material and the time required to correct it. He outlines the risks of agentic AI systems acting autonomously, raising new questions of accountability and control. The session concludes with an overview of current and emerging AI regulatory efforts in Canada, the United States, and Europe, highlighting the need for caution and diligence in adopting these technologies.