Authors of Articles

March 30, 2026

Information Insights (March 30, 2026): A Profession in Transition

The March 30, 2026 issue of Information Insights, published by Association for Information Science and Technology, offers a timely snapshot of a profession in transition. From the growing centrality of artificial intelligence to the strategic implications of the ASIS&T SLA merger, this edition highlights how information professionals are redefining their roles in an increasingly data-driven and interconnected world. The selected items underscore a clear message: adapting to technological change while strengthening professional collaboration is now essential to the future of information science. The following includes a Synopsis of the March 30, 2026 issue for the convenience of some, followed by a link to the entire issue.

SYNOPSIS:

The March 30, 2026 issue of Information Insights highlights a profession in transition, shaped by artificial intelligence, organizational consolidation, and a renewed emphasis on global collaboration and professional development. The newsletter blends association updates with broader trends affecting information science, libraries, and knowledge management.

March 29, 2026

Why Lawyers (And Law Librarians) Should Care About Metaphysics

by David Badertscher

Metaphysics is often described as the branch of philosophy that asks the most fundamental question of all: what is real? It explores the nature of existence, identity, causation, and the structure of reality itself. While this may sound abstract, metaphysics is far from remote. In practice, it quietly shapes the assumptions underlying every legal system and every act of legal research.

From the time of Aristotle and Plato, metaphysics has served as the foundation of traditional philosophy. It provides the conceptual framework within which other fields, knowledge, reasoning, and ethics, operate. In law, that framework is not theoretical; it is embedded in doctrine, interpretation, and everyday practice.

Consider a few familiar legal questions:

March 18, 2026

USPS at a Crossroads: Congress Convenes Urgent Hearing on Its Financial Future

by David Badertscher

The House Subcommittee on Government Operations has now concluded its March 17, 2026 hearing on “Oversight of the United States Postal Service: The Financial Future Under Postmaster General David Steiner,” and the message emerging from Capitol Hill is unmistakable: the United States Postal Service (USPS) faces mounting financial pressure, and time to act may be running short. According to the Subcommittee’s official wrap-up, the Postal Service’s “already-troubled financial situation is getting worse,” prompting renewed concern over whether the agency can remain viable without significant structural change.

A System Under Strain

Testimony before the Subcommittee underscored the scale of the challenge. Postmaster General David Steiner pointed to a dramatic collapse in traditional mail volume, from 213 billion pieces annually at its peak to approximately 109 billion today, representing a loss of over 100 billion pieces of mail and tens of billions in lost revenue. At the same time, while USPS has taken steps to increase revenue and reduce costs, those efforts have not kept pace with rising expenses. As the Government Accountability Office (GAO) emphasized, the current trajectory “is not sustainable,” with service performance declining even as costs continue to grow.

March 7, 2026

Immigration Data and Immigration Policy: Insights From a New CBO Report

by David Badertscher

Overview of the CBO Report

Congressional Budget Office — Immigrant Earnings Assimilation, 1981–2021 (Report No. 62202, March 2026)

The report analyzes how immigrants’ earnings evolve after arriving in the United States and how closely their wages eventually approach those of U.S. born workers. Using several decades of census and survey data, the CBO examines the economic process known as “earnings assimilation”, the extent to which immigrants’ wages increase with time spent in the U.S. labor market.

February 25, 2026

Overview of Two VERDICT Columns by Marci A. Hamilton on the Epstein Files*

by David Badertscher

Two recent opinion columns published on Justia Verdict – Legal Analysis and Commentary from Justia examine the legal, political, and moral implications of the continuing disclosures surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein investigations. Written by Professor Marci A. Hamilton of the University of Pennsylvania and founder of CHILD USA, the essays present a forceful argument that accountability for systemic abuse requires sustained legal pressure and public transparency. The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent the official position of Justia.

1. “The Three Avenues to Justice in the Epstein Cases” (Feb. 24, 2026)

In The Three Avenues to Justice in the Epstein Cases, Professor Hamilton argues that meaningful accountability is likely to emerge through three principal legal pathways rather than through federal prosecutorial initiative alone.

February 19, 2026

From Capability to Integration: A Lawyer’s View of AI’s Next Phase

by David Badertscher

A recent practitioner commentary offers a confident assessment of the current state of large language models (LLMs) in legal practice, arguing that the primary barriers to adoption are no longer questions of intelligence or reliability but rather issues of infrastructure and workflow integration. Writing from the perspective of a lawyer who uses advanced models daily, the author contends that modern systems have already reached a level of practical competence sufficient for much of routine legal work, and that the profession’s hesitation reflects outdated assumptions about hallucinations and model limitations.

Central to the argument is the claim that hallucinations, once the dominant concern surrounding generative AI, have largely receded as a meaningful obstacle. According to the author’s experience, newer models rarely produce fabricated information, and overall error rates compare favorably with those of competent junior associates. This view reflects a broader shift in perception: rather than treating LLMs as experimental tools requiring constant skepticism, the author frames them as increasingly dependable collaborators capable of supporting substantive legal tasks.

The post also challenges prevailing narratives about the intellectual difficulty of legal work. While acknowledging that certain cases demand deep expertise, the author suggests that the majority of legal tasks rely on skills such as careful reasoning, synthesis of precedent, structured writing, and research , areas where modern LLMs already excel. By reframing legal practice as process-driven rather than exclusively intellectually rarefied, the commentary positions AI as well aligned with the day-to-day realities of the profession.

February 15, 2026

Synthetic Data: The Hidden Lever Behind Responsible AI Strategy

by David Badertscher

Synthetic data acts as a “hidden lever” in responsible AI by enabling organizations to train, test, and validate AI models without violating privacy, using copyrighted material, or relying on biased real-world datasets. It allows for the deliberate creation of diverse, balanced datasets, transforming AI development from reactive bias correction to proactive “fairness by design“.

In a recent analysis, Professor Peter Lee of UC Davis School of Law argues that synthetic data could reshape the legal and economic landscape of AI. For organizations navigating compliance, intellectual property risks, and data privacy obligations, this development deserves close attention. Synthetic datasets promise to reduce reliance on sensitive real-world information, potentially lowering exposure to copyright disputes and privacy liabilities. For executives responsible for innovative budgets and risk management, that sounds like a compelling proposition.

Yet the opportunity comes with tradeoffs. Synthetic data does not eliminate risk — it transforms it. Lee highlights issues such as hidden bias, model degradation, and governance challenges when artificial datasets begin influencing real-world decision making. In other words, the question for leadership is not whether to adopt AI tools, but how to ensure that the data behind them remains trustworthy and aligned with organizational values.

February 11, 2026

Better than the Real Thing? Promises and Perils of Synthetic Data: An Overview of Professor Peter Lee’s Essay Published in VERDICT

by David Badertscher

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Professor Peter Lee’s VERDICT essay argues that synthetic data may revolutionize AI development by providing scalable, legally safer training material. Yet he warns that artificial datasets introduce new risks such as model collapse, bias, and misuse that demand proactive legal oversight. Rather than replacing existing regulatory debates, synthetic data transforms them, requiring courts, policymakers, and information professionals to rethink how innovation, privacy, and intellectual property intersect in the AI era

BETTER THAN THE REAL THING?

February 3, 2026

Opportunities and Risks of the Chinese Communist Party on Campus

by David Badertscher

Here’s an overview of the U.S. Department of State report titled The Chinese Communist Party on Campus: Opportunities & Risks (September 2020):

Purpose & Context

The report was produced by the U.S. Department of State as part of a broader effort to assess how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) engages with American universities, both through official programs and through student-linked organizations. It examines the potential benefits of educational exchanges as well as risks associated with influence and interference on U.S. campuses.

January 30, 2026

Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence: Winter 2026 Issue of SciTech Magazine

by David Badertscher

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.