I’ve been attending Legalweek for more than two decades. That’s long enough to remember when predictive coding was controversial! It’s also long enough to see buzzwords come and go.
As we head into 2026, I’d be surprised if AI didn’t dominate the conversation again. But what I’m anticipating seeing is a shift in tone around how we talk about it.
For this exercise, I decided to revisit 2023, the year when all the AI buzz started, and 2025, the year with the most recent discussions. What I found was an interesting change in comfort level throughout the industry.
Here’s what stood out:
Legalweek 2023: Curiosity, Caution, and Pressure
In 2023, legal teams were already under enormous pressure. Data volumes were growing, and new data sources, like mobile devices, collaboration tools, and social media, were already stretching traditional workflows. Risk wasn’t theoretical; it was operational.
Then ChatGPT hit the market.
Suddenly, everyone was talking about AI. But most of the conversations I had weren’t about implementation. They were about control.
- Who owns the output?
- What happens if it’s wrong?
- How do we explain it to regulators?
- Does this increase risk instead of reducing it?
The curiosity was real. So was the hesitation. No one wanted to be reckless, and frankly, that was the right instinct. In legal and compliance environments, speed without guardrails is a liability.
If I had to summarize 2023 in one word, it would be measured. The industry was leaning in, but doing so carefully.
Legalweek 2025: From Theory to Application
Fast forward to 2025, and the energy felt different.
AI wasn’t just a topic. It was embedded in the way firms and corporate legal teams were operating. The conversation shifted from “Should we do this?” to “How do we do this and do it well?”
The more productive discussions were centered around:
- Where AI is delivering measurable value
- How to integrate it into existing processes without breaking them
- How to reduce risk while increasing efficiency
- How to align it with budget realities
That shift from hype to operational discipline is where the real progress happened.
It also reinforced something I’ve believed for a long time: technology only works when it supports processes. Not the other way around. When AI is layered into a well-defined workflow, with accountability and human oversight, that’s when it becomes transformative. Without that structure, it’s just noise.
The Constants: Data, Risk and Budget Pressure
Let’s be clear, not everything changed. Data volumes are still growing. Risk hasn’t gone anywhere. Budgets are still tight. Legal departments are still being asked to do more with less.
What’s changed is the industry’s confidence in navigating those realities. By 2025, the fear had softened into pragmatism. Organizations weren’t blindly adopting AI, but they weren’t avoiding it either. They were piloting, refining, measuring, and adjusting.
That’s maturity.
Looking Ahead to Legalweek 2026
As we head into 2026, I’m less interested in the splashy announcements and more interested in the execution stories.
- Where is AI genuinely improving outcomes?
- Where has it fallen short?
- How are teams building governance around it?
- How are leaders balancing innovation with responsibility?
Legalweek has always been a barometer for our industry. After 22 years, I’ve learned that what people are whispering in hallways is often more important than what’s on stage.
This year, I expect less speculation and more accountability. And that’s a good thing, because the organizations that win won’t be the ones chasing trends. They’ll be the ones who integrate technology thoughtfully, align it with business objectives, and keep people at the center of the equation.
I’m looking forward to the conversations.
Ginny Gonzalez
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With over 20 years of legal experience, Ginny has spent her career working directly with corporate legal, legal operations and global law firm clients. In her current role as Chief Revenue Officer at TCDI, Ginny and her team are responsible for consulting and strategizing in partnership with clients to determine the best solutions for managing legal process, workflow and the customized interaction between technology and services to better reduce costs and create efficiencies.
