Ellen Keenan-O'Malley: Exploring the legal aspects of Conversational AI & beyond

Ewan MacLeod

25 Oct 2024 — 2 min read

I recently sat down with the fabulous Ellen Keenan-O'Malley from the law firm EIP to record a podcast episode with her on the topic of Artificial Intelligence and Conversational AI.

Ellen is a commercial IP solicitor specialising in intellectual property, new and emerging technology, AI, cyber and data protection. She has extensive experience advising clients on topics such as IP licensing arrangements, AI and software matters. Ellen is also an early-stage and spin-out specialist. Plus, she's got 8+ years working as internal counsel at the financial services giant, BNP Paribas.

So, just the kind of profile you want to be speaking to when you've got all sorts of questions surrounding your (Conversational) AI products and services.

Perhaps the most important issue I discussed with Ellen was the need to involve your legal colleagues from the start of any project. I've seen the ramifications of not doing so repeatedly both in corporates and in startups. In some rare cases, not getting the right legal advice at the beginning can mean a total re-write of the software or a complete reset of approach.

Here are some of the takeaways she discussed during the episode:

AI law is currently ambiguous and evolving
Companies often approach lawyers at the last minute
Engaging with legal experts early can save time and resources
Data protection is a significant concern in conversational AI
Existing laws like GDPR still apply to AI technologies
Indemnity provisions are crucial for AI vendors
Legal considerations should be integrated from the start of AI projects
Human intervention is necessary to mitigate AI risks
AI can enhance efficiency in the legal profession
The legal profession must adapt to the rise of AI

Quick Links for listening now:

Listen online: Episode 7: Ellen Keenan-O'Malley, Solicitor at EIP
Listen on Spotify: Episode 7: Ellen Keenan-O'Malley, Solicitor at EIP
Listen on Apple: Episode 7: Ellen Keenan-O'Malley, Solicitor at EIP
Or simply search 'Conversational AI Podcast' and you will find it in your favourite podcast player

You can connect with Ellen via her corporate site or via her LinkedIn Profile.

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