Services

HBC assists clients in identifying the processes required to make their AI systems effective and in collecting and analyzing the empirical data required to demonstrate the effectiveness of those systems. HBC applies that same expertise in contributing to the development of standards for the responsible use of AI and other advanced technologies

With 20 years of experience designing and evaluating e-discovery systems, Dr. Hedin brings both scientific expertise and practical good sense to the task of getting the most out of advanced legal technologies. Example services include:

• ESI Protocols. Assist both requesting and producing parties in reaching agreement on provisions for reducing the obstacles to the efficient, effective, and trustworthy use of advanced technologies in meeting discovery obligations. See here for a model protocol, together with commentary and guidelines for practitioners.
• TAR Audits. Conduct assessments of the strengths and weaknesses of a party’s technology-assisted review (TAR) processes. Provide recommendations as to how those processes can be made more efficient, effective, and defensible.
• Meet and Confer. For requesting parties, assist in identifying the information to be asked of the producing party in order to gain a well-grounded trust of the outcome of that party's discovery processes. For producing parties, assist in responding to inquiries from the requesting party, distinguishing what is essential to building trust in the results of a process (to be disclosed) from what is not essential (not to be disclosed). 
• Motion practice. Assist in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the data and arguments each side has brought to bear in a discovery dispute. Support a party's position with affidavits and expert testimony stating the results of my analysis.
• Investigations. Assist in the design and execution of sampling exercises used to gather empirical data on the questions that have prompted an (internal or external) investigation. Document the results of that exercise for disclosure to the investigating party (if needed)..
• Evaluations. Assist in the design and execution of evaluations of the effectiveness of legal technologies being considered for adoption (or already adopted). Document the results of the evaluation, along with recommendations for the responsible deployment of the technology under consideration.

Drawing on his experience in developing and evaluating advanced legal technologies, Dr. Hedin contributes both scientific and practical perspectives to efforts to define and implement norms that will enable the realization of the benefits AI offers while containing its attendant risks. Example services include:

• Frameworks. Articulate pathways for developing policies and standards that are both actionable and anchored in core values. For such a framework (designed for the development of AI-focused education policies), see here.
• Model Policies. Develop template policies that practitioners can then adapt to their specific circumstances. For a set of model policies applicable to K-12 education, see here.
• Standards. Contribute to standards development initiatives, with a particular focus on ensuring that the standards are defined in a way that makes compliance empirically measurable.
• Evaluation Initiatives. Design scientifically sound but also readily understandable evaluations of the fitness-for-purpose of AI systems (and other advanced technologies). Create more widespread understanding among stakeholders of both the findings and the protocols used to reach the findings. For an example from the field of e-discovery, see here.
• Education. Contribute to courses and conferences designed to advance non-expert practitioners' understanding of the mechanics of AI systems, the benefits and risks offered by such systems, and the practical means of mitigating the attendant risks.