Not Every Task Needs AI
AI has real capabilities, but those capabilities match some tasks better than others. Understanding the difference helps in evaluating tools and setting realistic expectations.
Where AI Adds Value
AI performs well on tasks with certain characteristics:
Rule-based work. Disability rating calculations follow statutory formulas. The same rules apply every time. AI can apply those rules consistently across thousands of calculations without fatigue or arithmetic errors.
High-volume processing. Reviewing large document sets, extracting data from standardized forms, checking citations across a brief—these tasks involve processing volume that humans find tedious. AI handles volume well.
Pattern recognition. Identifying similar clauses across contracts, spotting inconsistencies in discovery productions, flagging potential conflicts—AI can scan large datasets faster than manual review.
Where AI Falls Short
Other tasks don't map well to AI capabilities:
Professional judgment. Evaluating case strength, advising on strategy, counseling clients—these require contextual understanding and ethical reasoning that AI doesn't provide.
Novel situations. AI is trained on historical data. New legal issues, unprecedented facts, or emerging regulations may not be well-represented in training data.
Relationship work. Client relationships, negotiations, and professional dynamics involve human elements that remain outside AI's scope.
Practical Questions
When evaluating an AI tool, consider:
If a tool can't answer these questions clearly, that's useful information.
Glass Box's Approach
Our products address specific, defined tasks. The PD ratings calculator handles disability rating calculations. The Adjudica platform handles document processing and case timelines. We build tools where AI genuinely helps, and we're clear about what those tools do.