AI, Risk, and the Future of eDiscovery Highlight eDiscovery Day 2025: Why Staying Current Is No Longer Optional

When eDiscovery Day was founded in 2015, it marked a pivotal moment: the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure had just formally recognized electronic discovery as essential to modern litigation. Ten years later, the industry faces an equally profound shift — one defined not by new regulations, but by new technology.

Artificial intelligence isn’t a side topic in eDiscovery anymore; it’s the discipline’s new foundation. The 11th annual eDiscovery Day, taking place December 4 and organized by Exterro with partners including ACEDS, EDRM, and eDiscovery Today, centers on this transformation under the theme “AI, Risk, and the Future of eDiscovery.” The event’s goal is simple but urgent: helping professionals understand how to innovate responsibly in an AI-driven era.

AI at the Heart of Modern eDiscovery

For years, AI in eDiscovery meant optional enhancements — a way to accelerate document review or filter irrelevant data. Today, with nearly 40 percent of eDiscovery professionals and three out of four law firms now using AI tools, that’s changed completely. Modern discovery depends on intelligent automation to handle scale, speed, and complexity. Algorithms now assist with everything from early case assessment to predictive coding, privilege detection, and risk scoring. As Exterro CMO John Vincenzo noted in the announcement, AI “is no longer a disruptor — it is the discipline’s next foundation.” That shift changes what it means to be proficient in eDiscovery. Technical fluency, ethical understanding, and governance awareness are becoming inseparable skills.

But this technological evolution also introduces a new layer of responsibility: professionals must ensure that automation is explainable, bias-aware, and defensible. Legal teams can’t afford to lag behind AI’s pace. The risks are not abstract — they’re operational, ethical, and reputational. Poorly governed AI models can misclassify privileged content or reinforce bias in data selection. Automated workflows without transparency make it impossible to prove defensibility in court. And because data now spans multiple jurisdictions, AI must adapt to a patchwork of evolving privacy and discovery laws. Mary Mack, CEO of EDRM, captured this challenge perfectly: “Data has outgrown borders, and AI has outpaced policy.” As AI becomes embedded in every stage of discovery, maintaining defensibility requires both technical literacy and a willingness to collaborate across legal, privacy, and security teams.

Continuous Learning Defines the Modern eDiscovery Professional

The traditional boundaries between legal expertise and technology specialization are blurring. Professionals who thrive in the next phase of discovery will be those who can bridge that gap — understanding not only what AI does, but how it makes its decisions and how to validate its results. The pace of change makes continuing education a necessity, not an option. Attending events, experimenting with AI-powered review tools, and engaging in cross-disciplinary learning all help practitioners future-proof their careers while ensuring that their organizations maintain compliant, defensible processes.

That’s why forums like eDiscovery Day are so important. As ACEDS VP Maribel Rivera emphasized, the demand for AI-literate, ethically minded practitioners is exploding. This year’s sessions bring together judges, in-house counsel, and technologists to translate innovation into practice — addressing topics like model validation, defensibility, and risk mitigation.

AI may be transforming discovery, but its long-term value depends on how responsibly it’s implemented. The future of eDiscovery isn’t just faster review — it’s accountable automation: technology that documents its reasoning, scales ethically, and complements human judgment. That’s the deeper message of this year’s theme. As Exterro and its partners bring together the global community on December 4, the conversation goes beyond tools and toward trust. The next decade of discovery will belong to professionals who not only adopt AI, but also define its principles of governance and ethics.

Join the Conversation

eDiscovery Day 2025 is free to attend and open to all professionals in the legal, compliance, and technology communities. Learn more and view the full agenda at www.eDiscoveryDay.com.