I Spoke to AI Experts at a Private Dinner. Here is What I Learned
I Spoke to AI Experts at a Private Dinner. Here is What I Learned
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Future Focus
I Spoke to AI Experts at a Private Dinner. Here is What I Learned
Last Tuesday, I attended a private dinner at Butter, a renowned New York City restaurant owned by chef Alex Guarnaschelli. The evening's theme of AI’s Role in the Future of Journalism & Consulting fit perfectly with the restaurant’s blend of tradition and modernity.
Journalism has been around since the 17th century. While we are all aware of how social media and digital communications have impacted journalism over the last several decades, it now faces a transformation unlike anything we've seen before. As I spoke with executives from The New York Times, Financial Times, Associated Press, and many others, one word kept coming up: innovation.
The conversation began with journalism but soon expanded into other areas. A side chat with the CEO of an AI transcription company painted a picture of what could happen in a courtroom in the near future.
Imagine this: a witness is testifying, but instead of a stenographer typing every word, AI is capturing the testimony in real time. As the witness speaks, AI is not just transcribing, it is analyzing testimony, cross-checking previous statements, and suggesting questions for the lawyers based on the facts of the case.
It sounds like science fiction, but it is not. This future is closer than we think.
AI’s Rapid Entry into the Legal Profession
The legal profession, which has traditionally been slow to embrace new technologies, is already starting to adapt to and adopt AI. Harvey, a generative AI company, saw its revenue grow tenfold in 2023. After raising $80 million in Series B funding, the company is now valued at $715 million. Their tagline, “Generating the Future of Law,” is proving to be more than just a catchphrase.
Top law firms are already using Harvey, and this is only the beginning.
Stenography, a profession dating back to ancient Egypt, is also undergoing changes few could have predicted. Last year, when I interviewed a Court Reporting Program Advisor at Plaza College, I learned how lucrative stenography still is. Some professionals earn multi six-figure salaries without needing a college degree.
Despite the high earning potential, the number of qualified stenographers has dropped sharply. In some states, up to 85% fewer stenographers are working today than five years ago. This shortage has led to delays in court proceedings and pushed the legal industry to explore AI-driven transcription as a solution.
But what does this shift mean for you, whether you’re leading a team or guiding the next generation of talent?
AI Is Changing More Than Just Journalism and Law
AI is transforming entire industries, and it’s happening faster than anyone expected.
The impact goes far beyond transcription. Every profession is evolving, and the way we work is being rewritten. For leaders, this means preparing teams for new tools, workflows, and expectations. For educators and career service administrators, it’s about helping students navigate a future where AI will be part of their daily lives and careers.
But the real story isn’t about replacing tasks with AI. That’s only scratching the surface. The true transformation will happen when we begin doing work that isn’t even possible today. Now is the time to step back and rethink what your job could look like when fully augmented by AI. Don't settle for small changes. Push your thinking beyond the obvious.
Take the time to imagine your role in ways that feel crazy or impossible. Your first reaction might be, “This can’t happen.” And right now, maybe it can’t. But in the next 12 to 24 months, the landscape could shift in ways we can’t even predict. The challenge is not just to keep up with AI but to imagine how your job could fundamentally evolve when we move beyond the limits of what’s possible today.