SciTech Magazine is published by the Science and Technology Section of the American Bar Association.
INTRODUCTION:
The Winter 2026 issue of The SciTech Lawyer, published by the American Bar Association’s Science & Technology Law Section, arrives at a pivotal moment in the legal profession’s evolving relationship with artificial intelligence. Centered on the theme of responsible AI use, this issue explores how rapidly advancing technologies are reshaping legal practice while raising urgent ethical, regulatory, and professional responsibility concerns.
Through a series of timely and accessible articles, contributors examine AI’s expanding role in litigation, healthcare, cybersecurity, e-discovery, and decision-making, alongside the risks of overreliance, unchecked commercial pressures, and the illusion of machine “empathy.” Collectively, the issue offers legal professionals a practical and forward-looking guide to navigating AI’s promise and perils, underscoring the importance of human judgment, informed governance, and ethical restraint in an increasingly automated world.