Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the successful completion of the first event in a new educational initiative focused on emerging legal and technology issues, with this year’s program centering on the growing influence of artificial intelligence within the legal profession.
The inaugural event, titled Innovation with Integrity: Embracing AI Responsibly in Your Legal Practice, brought together legal professionals, technology experts, educators, and law enforcement officials to discuss both the opportunities and the risks tied to artificial intelligence.
Following the event, Griffin emphasized that artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming an important tool in modern legal work but warned that technology should never replace human decision-making and professional ethics.
“The kickoff of the Emerging Issues Series delivered valuable insight into the intersection of artificial intelligence and the law,” Griffin said. “AI is an incredibly powerful tool that has the potential to reshape the practice of law. But as we heard from our distinguished lineup of speakers today, AI should be used to augment, not replace, our professional judgment.”
Experts Discuss AI Risks And Opportunities
The event featured a wide range of speakers from legal, academic, military, and law enforcement backgrounds who explored how AI is changing legal practice, public safety, and organizational leadership.
Griffin said the program opened with a conversation involving Chad Bridges, who currently serves as The Adjutant General of Arkansas. According to Griffin, Bridges discussed how leadership plays a major role in responsibly introducing AI systems within organizations.
“I kicked off our event with an insightful conversation with Brigadier General Chad Bridges, The Adjutant General of Arkansas,” Griffin said. “General Bridges set the tone for the event by discussing the importance of leadership in implementing AI within an organization.”
Several nationally recognized experts also participated in the event. Speakers included Colin Levy of Malbek, Daniel Linna Jr. from the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and McCormick School of Engineering, Scott Schlegel of the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal, and Sean Harrington from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.
The program also included a presentation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Little Rock Field Office focused on deepfakes and AI-generated child sexual abuse material, highlighting growing concerns about how artificial intelligence can be exploited for criminal activity.
Griffin credited Deputy General Counsel and Senior Advisor for AI Kevin Lee for organizing the event and thanked members of his office who helped coordinate the program.
“I am grateful to my Deputy General Counsel and Senior Advisor for AI Kevin Lee, who organized today’s event, and all my staff who worked to make this event a success,” Griffin said.
According to the attorney general, public interest in the conference was significant, with more than 400 people registering to attend.
“We were pleased by the strong response to the event, with more than 400 people registering,” Griffin added. “This program was incredibly valuable for Arkansas’s legal community, and I look forward to organizing future events in the Emerging Issues Series to tackle other topics.”
The Emerging Issues Series is expected to continue with future events examining additional legal and technology challenges affecting Arkansas and the broader legal community.
