A.I. Note Takers Are Creating Legal Risks for Lawyers
Lawyers are increasingly removing artificial intelligence note-taking bots from client meetings and board calls. The tools, which have become standard productivity software across many companies, capture everything said in a meeting - including offhand comments, jokes, and statements people later correct - creating a permanent record that could jeopardize attorney-client privilege.
Jeffrey Gifford, a corporate governance and M&A lawyer at Dykema in San Antonio, said he now acts as a "bouncer" before virtual meetings begin. "When I see that A.I. note taker pop up, I'll just say: 'Hey, Mike, Jim, Barbara, I see the A.I. note taker popped up. I'm going to turn it off and kick it out of the meeting,'" he told DealBook.
The problem is widespread. Executives, boards, and business professionals across industries are using A.I. note takers. Some video call platforms allow users to enable transcription by default, meaning recordings can start without explicit awareness from all participants.
What Gets Recorded
A.I.-generated transcripts preserve material that would never appear in traditional meeting minutes. Offhand remarks, quickly corrected statements, and casual comments become part of a searchable, permanent record.
In legal contexts, this creates exposure. Anything said in a meeting with counsel could potentially be discoverable in litigation. If an A.I. recording captures a conversation that should have been protected, it may waive the privilege that normally shields attorney-client communications from disclosure.
A Growing Trend
A.I. note takers have become what some call "the latest office power move." Skipping meetings and sending a bot instead is now common practice. Wallet-size recorders using A.I. transcription have become a product category. At least one C.E.O. has publicly endorsed adding an A.I. board member to corporate governance.
For lawyers, the trend creates a straightforward tension: the tools that boost productivity for most workers introduce legal risk in settings where privilege matters.
Learn more about AI for Legal professionals and how to manage these tools responsibly, or explore the AI Learning Path for Paralegals to understand the broader implications for legal practice.
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