UK firm Keoghs launches AI lawyer to work with insurers
UK multi-office law firm Keoghs has claimed it has launched the first real AI lawyer, Lauri, which it believes could completely change how insurers work with their law firms. Lauri can respond to an email in seconds, providing help on avoidable litigation cases, which it can handle with "transformative speed, efficiency and cost reduction" in comparison with a human operator. The technology is highly adaptable as Lauri uses a natural language processor. "For AI to be embraced, replicating a human interaction with no extra systems, logins or processes is crucial," said Keoghs partner Dene Rowe.

North West Business Richard Frost

Keoghs has launched what it claims is the first true AI lawyer to hit the insurance market, which the Bolton-headquartered law firm believes will revolutionise the way in which insurers interact with their legal providers.

Keoghs' AI lawyer Lauri will initially handle avoidable litigation cases, providing insurers with transformative speed and ease of service, and handing the power back to handlers while reducing cost, the firm said. Lauri can settle cases back to insurers within seconds of the instructing email being sent.

As Lauri communicates directly via email using natural language processing, there is no need for handlers to log into old-fashioned legal portals, ensuring no change in communication other than the improved speed and efficiency with which an outcome is provided.

Keoghs said that not only does this make Lauri the first truly automated AI insurance lawyer launched to the market, it also means that insurers do not need to grapple with new technologies or systems, avoiding duplication, re-keying and providing greater efficiency in the way that claims are managed.

Rather than using separate systems and processes as a standalone AI package, moreover, Lauri interacts with Keoghs' case management system Tracker. This means that Lauri's abilities can be applied across a range of claim types and services in the future.

Keoghs partner and director of product development Dene Rowe said: "There has been a lot of talk in the industry over the last year or two regarding AI, in particular solutions being discussed that almost hijack the true meaning of artificial intelligence. Our approach is to bring a true game-changer to market, a solution that is fully automated and robotic in nature but importantly delivers a quantum leap in speed, efficiency and cost reduction.

"Additionally, we did not want to simply bring a DIY litigation portal-based system to market that would create duplication and inefficiencies in our clients' own businesses. For AI to be embraced, there has to be a benefit for our clients, and replicating a human interaction with no extra systems, logins or processes is crucial. With Lauri, the claims handler simply communicates through email as they generally would at present with human lawyers.

"At Keoghs we say Lauri is the future, better handled; but this new member of our team shows that the future is already here."

Keoghs is backed by mid-market private equity firm LDC.