AI Statement
This is my artificial intelligence transparency statement — it’s intended to give clients, industry contacts, and members of the public a straightforward picture of how I use AI in my work — and, just as importantly, how I don’t use AI.
AI has been part of my life since 2018, when I became one of the first lawyers in the world to specialise in deepfakes. I advise on it, speak about it, experiment with it — and yes, occasionally have existential crises about it. That’s precisely why I care so much about having clear principles and boundaries regarding how I use the technology. I also want to be transparent because my role as a lawyer depends on clients being able to trust me and have confidence in my professional judgement.My Approach
When I use AI, I:
✓ first carefully review the tool’s T&Cs, privacy policies, and other relevant fine print
✓ use enterprise subscription tiers for enhanced privacy, security, and data protection
✓ use my best endeavours to ensure that the models used are properly licensed and respect rights of others, to include copyright, trade marks, persona, privacy, and publicity rights
✓ only use software provided by companies based in United States or Europe, unless there is a compelling reason to use a specific tool based elsewhere (for example, if I’m asked to do a risk assessment of Seedance, which is based in China)
✓ disable algorithmic training or other ‘service improvement’ options where possible
✓ look beyond the tool itself and consider the company and people behind it, including lawsuits, regulatory investigations, and the political affiliations of its executives.
★ As a general rule I never knowingly upload, modify, or generate content that violates the rights of others, especially with regard to human creativity (copyright) and likeness (persona rights). However, in special circumstances and only if strictly related to my work, I may intentionally test guardrails so that I may advise on the risks and vulnerabities associated with particular AI tools.
Legal work for clients
Provided always that client confidentiality is respected, from time to time I may use AI to:
✓ Summarise notes and dictations for my own records and analysis
✓ Assist with non-sensitive research, subject to my own independent verification
✓ Organise my thoughts or explore ideas around a particular problem
✓ Learn more about commercial issues, like trends and market insights
✓ Help manage my schedule and prioritise my workload
I never use AI to:
✗ Make decisions or replace my professional judgement
✗ Write emails, not even with Microsoft Copilot or Gmail Gemini auto-complete features
✗ Analyse privileged, confidential or otherwise sensitive client information
✗ Handle anything related to financial information, to include my invoices
Content & Branding
I may use AI to:
✓ Develop outlines, structures and ideas for presentations, social media and marketing
✓ Brainstorm examples or ways of explaining complex topics
✓ Generate images and other audiovisual material for presentations and marketing
✓ Analyse and improve my online engagement and website content
I never use AI for:
✗ Writing articles, lectures or presentations
✗ Generating synthetic versions of identifiable people’s voices, likenesses or performances (unless it’s my own image or voice, or someone whose express permission I’ve received in advance)