Embrace Your Inner Beginner: Golf Lessons for AI Success???♀???

?? Welcome to Notes to My (Legal) Self, the frequently fun newsletter focused on helping you build the legal career of your dreams.

? Know someone who would be interested in joining our conversation? Forward this newsletter and invite them to subscribe.

Hello Friends and Colleagues,

My daughters play golf like it's their job. They join competitions almost every weekend, weather permitting. I’ll never be satisfied as just their caddie. I prefer sharing their experiences firsthand.

But, golf? Time barely scrapes by between shots. I bounce from foot to foot. Stretch. Check my watch, my phone, the sky. My turn! I aim – I do, I swear – and the balls fly wildly off the tee, rarely stopping on the green and never near the hole.???

I shrug and smile widely, urging my daughters ahead. Go and dazzle the world as the bright, brilliant stars you are, my heart sings to them.?

But there’s another side of me where the defeat stings. Losing rekindles the old, slow burn of self-doubt. Nothing grinds my gears quite like golf because no matter how often I play, I never, ever get even the tiniest bit better.

Still, my attempts are not all in vain. Golf bolsters my patience, forcing me to work through my frustration in perpetual ball hunts. I may never score below 100, but teeing up repeatedly fortifies my resilience.?

Best of all, playing golf badly opens my heart and mind to others who are struggling in their pursuits. Every missed shot is a humble reminder of what it's like to be a beginner.?

In much the same way, we are all beginners in the rapidly evolving AI field. We’re all stepping outside our comfort zones into the unknown. AI offers everyone an opportunity to tackle new challenges with the eagerness of complete beginners, to feel the invigorating spark of surprise, and to learn new skills.?

Just like golf, AI can be complex and challenging. We must be willing to try new approaches, learn from others and the world around us, and stay open to the unexpected.?

We get to begin anew, liberated from preconceived notions of how things should be, empowered to explore the endless possibilities of what they can become.?

I accept that I’ll always lag behind my daughters on the green. That’s okay because we are all on a continuous learning journey. Sometimes, we are just beginning; other times, we are pushing our limits. But we are never done. Our blunders guide us toward better outcomes.?

Recalling that allows us to cultivate openness and sincerity, encouraging us to embrace the diverse perspectives, ideas, and struggles of others. That’s how we all move forward together.

Best,

Olga

?? Happy Halloween, you little devil you ??

Lawyers play “devil’s advocate” to challenge and improve legal arguments. One person champions the opponents’ position (or a less popular stance) for the sake of a more rigorous investigation.??

But did you know that "devil's advocate " was once a formal position in the Roman Catholic Church?

Pope Sixtus V established the office of “devil’s advocate” in 1587. Known also as "the Promoter of the Faith," the official critically examined the life and miracles attributed to candidates for beatification or canonization. The devil’s advocate presented unfavorable information about a candidate, uncovering any character flaws or misrepresentations to help confirm that the church recognized only truly heroic saints.

The Latest in Learning About Responsible AI Oversight

5 First Steps Toward Responsible AI Oversight . GCs who oversee AI systems must first set out the principles governing the use and improvement of AI systems. These steps show how to start developing a comprehensive AI supervisory framework that works for your organization.

Top 10 Resources to Build an Ethical AI Framework . TechTarget compiled a list of top resources to help you establish a framework to ensure AI is used responsibly. Don’t miss out on these useful standards, tools, techniques, and other resources.

Demystify Black Box AI: 7 Tips to Promote Explainable AI . Overseeing the responsible use of AI requires understanding the rationale behind AI's decisions. But what about “black box” AI? These seven tips will help you navigate the black box AI mystery and promote the use of explainable AI for a more inclusive future.

Unlocking Success in AI Supervision: Cultivating Mindset and Skills for Lawyers and Measuring Impact . To supervise AI, lawyers must cultivate the right mindset: an insatiable appetite for knowledge, interdisciplinary collaboration, proactive problem-solving, ethical awareness, critical thinking, and more, along with essential skills like legal expertise, technical comprehension, data governance, risk assessment, and project management.

Keep Your Eye on AI: Chime in on AI’s Future

The US Copyright Office wants to hear from YOU! You’re invited to voice your thoughts and concerns on:

1?? The ethical use of copyrighted data in AI training.

2?? The possibility of copyrighting AI-generated materials, even if a human isn't directly involved.

3?? Understanding the dynamics of copyright liability in the context of AI.

4?? How AI might infringe on publicity rights, especially when it comes to mimicking voices, art styles, or likenesses, and how this could influence state regulations concerning publicity and unfair competition laws.

?? Read the Notice of Inquiry ??

??? Submit Your Comments ????

?? Mark Your Calendars ???

Written Comments Deadline: October 18 Replies Submission Deadline: November 15

What You Said: Highlights from August’s Newsletter

Last month, we discussed embracing the unexpected and welcoming the unknown. You shared your positive thoughts in return. Here are some highlights:

Thank you for taking the time to share your perspectives!

Notes to My (Legal) Self Corner: Shaping the Future with AI

Taming the Generative AI Monster . What is AI's proper role for humans? What is Responsible AI? Are there guardrails for the development and use of AI? Can AI protect human well-being, fairness, transparency, and accountability? Join the conversation with Shawnna Hoffman & Larry Bridgesmth.

What Authority to Cite When Marketing to Lawyers . Ramtin Taheri shares his journey of connecting brands with social media influencers focused on law. Discover how our curated group of influencers is shaping the future of legal marketing strategies and how LinkedIn has long been known as a powerhouse for professional networking.

Generative AI in Law: Resistance is Futile . Join Niki Black and me as we explore the practical applications of generative AI in the legal industry with insight into technical and ethical challenges. Get strategies for implementation and start fostering a forward-thinking mindset in your practice.

Responsible AI Implementation: Overcoming the 90% Failure Factor . Larry Bridgesmith, Executive Advisor of Guardrail Technologies, and I delve into integrating AI into the legal sector. We explore the pros and cons, ethical obligations, the future of legal jobs, and strategies for practicing law in the AI era.

?? Find up-to-date information, insights, and events on the Notes to My (Legal) Self LinkedIn page . Follow so you don’t miss a beat!

? Do you know an in-house leader who would be a great guest for the Notes to my (Legal) Self LinkedIn LIVE/podcast conversation? Let me know.?

Self-nominations are encouraged. In fact, they are a bold act of self-confidence!

Now let’s hear from you!

Thank you for reading and subscribing to my newsletter.

What topics would you like to discuss in the future?

Please comment below or message me with your thoughts. Then join us when discussing your most pressuring concerns in future newsletters.

?? That’s all for this edition of Notes to My (Legal) Self.?

Subscribe now to get notified of each new edition!

Olga Mack is a Digital Transformation Executive at LexisNexis , and an award-winning general counsel, operations specialist, and tech startup advisor who encourages lawyers to embrace disruptive technologies that make law more functional and accessible.

A three-time TEDx presenter with an exceptional blend of legal, technological, and business expertise, Olga is one of today’s top speakers and thought leaders. Find her latest insights at Above the Law, Forbes, Bloomberg Law, ACC Docket, MIT Computational Law Report, Newsweek, and Venture Beat.

Olga founded the Women Serve on Boards movement, sparking a national conversation on the need for more women on Fortune 500 company boards. She also co-founded SunLaw and WISE , organizations that help female lawyers thrive.?

As a Berkeley Law lecturer, a fellow of CodeX, the Stanford Law Center for Legal Informatics, and a fellow of the College of Law Practice Management, Olga is confident the law’s future is secure in the hands of innovators.?

Olga’s numerous awards include the Silicon Valley Women of Influence, ABA Women in Legal Tech, Make Your Mark, Corporate Counsel of the Year, and Women Leaders in Technology Law.?

In examining how disruptive technologies impact laws, society, business, and commerce, Olga authored Blockchain Value: Transforming Business Models, Society, and Communities and co-authored Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security . Her next book, Visual IQ for Lawyers (ABA 2024), shows how lawyers can use practical design and visual elements to make law more understandable to all.