Technology has transformed how we work, communicate, and carry out tasks in today’s fast-paced world. In this article, we will explore why human transcriptionists are preferred over AI transcription for the legal industry.
Accuracy
Accuracy is critical when it comes to legal transcription. It is paramount that every word and phrase is transcribed correctly, as even a tiny error could significantly impact the outcome of the case. AI transcription has come a long way in recent years but must still be more accurate than human transcriptionists. In addition, AI has difficulty recognizing accents and dialects, making it challenging to transcribe the speech of witnesses and attorneys from different parts of the US or different countries.
Additionally, legal terminology is complex and nuanced, with specific meanings and implications that are different in the legal field than in other areas. Human transcriptionists are trained to recognize and understand the differences in contextual meaning, which AI rarely recognizes. Therefore, AI will need to be much more accurate with legal terminology to avoid misunderstandings and misrepresentations in the final transcript you see now. For instance, a term like “men’s rea” (criminal intent) may be interpreted as “men’s rear,” leading to an incorrect transcription.
Understanding Context
Understanding the context is another area where human transcriptionists outperform AI transcription. In legal proceedings, a phrase or word can impact its meaning. For example, the phrase “beyond a reasonable doubt” has a specific meaning in a legal context, which differs from everyday usage. Human transcriptionists can understand the context in which legal terms and phrases are used.
In contrast, AI transcription needs a better understanding of the context in which words and phrases are used to eliminate those errors and misunderstandings it has now. For example, AI transcription has confused the term “case law” (legal precedent) with “casing law,” which has led to a completely different meaning.
Experience and Training
Experience and training are critical when choosing between AI transcription and human legal transcriptionists. Legal industry transcription expert and CEO of Ditto Transcripts, Ben Walker emphasizes the importance of using well-trained and experienced human transcriptionists in legal settings. He said, “At Ditto, we only use highly experienced and well-trained human transcriptionists who have undergone extensive training in legal terminology and have a deep understanding of the legal industry.”
Human transcriptionists’ experience and training give them a deep understanding of the legal context and terminology, which is essential for producing accurate transcripts. Additionally, human transcriptionists can ask for clarification when needed, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the final transcript.
While AI transcription has made significant progress in recent years, they still need to be much more accurate and have contextual understanding. AI has yet to match the experience and training that human transcriptionists offer the legal transcription services industry. While AI transcription can be a helpful tool, it must find a way to replace the expertise and capabilities of human transcriptionists in legal settings. Legal proceedings are often very complex, requiring accurate and reliable legal transcripts to ensure justice is served. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize using well-trained and highly experienced human transcriptionists to produce accurate and reliable legal transcripts. As technology advances, it is essential to recognize its limitations and continue to value the unique capabilities humans bring to the table.
