How a lawyer at OpenAI uses OpenAI at work

Nicole Diaz, an associate general counsel at OpenAI, is reshaping the landscape of corporate compliance through innovative use of artificial intelligence. A year into her role, Diaz has harnessed the capabilities of OpenAI's tools, specifically ChatGPT and Codex, to streamline her legal responsibilities and enhance efficiency. Before joining OpenAI, Diaz had no programming experience. However, her journey into leveraging AI began with tackling one of the more mundane aspects of compliance: policy writing. Traditionally, legal documents are laden with jargon that can obscure their intent, but Diaz recognized the need for clarity at OpenAI. She created a ChatGPT skill known as "simplify," which effectively transforms complex legal texts into accessible guidance for employees. Beyond policy writing, Diaz also employs Codex to manage the influx of employee inquiries regarding compliance matters. Each day, her AI systems sift through her emails, categorizing them by risk and producing draft responses based on pre-established guidelines. This automation not only saves time but also allows Diaz to focus on more complex issues that require her legal expertise. Despite the advantages of these AI tools, Diaz acknowledges that they are not without their challenges. She often finds that the AI-generated responses can sound overly formal. To address this, she is working on personalizing the AI's output to reflect her own communication style, bridging the gap between technology and personal touch. The transformation Diaz has experienced is emblematic of a larger trend within the legal field, where traditional roles are evolving through the integration of AI technologies. OpenAI's approach encourages legal professionals to become creators rather than just consumers of technology, fostering a culture of innovation within the legal team. Peer learning and sharing best practices have become integral to this process, making the transition not only manageable but also enjoyable. As the legal landscape continues to adapt to technological advancements, Diaz's experience serves as a testament to the potential of AI to enhance efficiency while preserving the essential role of human judgment in legal practice.