Professor Benjamin Alarie featured on the big screen for U of T Law’s first movie premiere
On Thursday, September 29, the U of T Faculty of Law had its first movie premiere with the showing of The A.I. Taxman, an educational documentary about the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in tax law. The documentary was produced by UDocs Media, a partner of the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, in collaboration with Blue J Legal and the Future of Law Lab.
The A.I. Taxman focuses on Professor Benjamin Alarie, an expert in tax law and the co-founder of the legal tech startup, Blue J Legal, alongside fellow Faculty members Anthony Niblett and Albert Yoon, who also make appearances in the film. Blue J Legal develops software that employs AI and predictive technology to provide professionals with instant and reliable answers to tax, labour, and employment law issues. As described on the UDocs website, there is negative perception about AI and its potential invasive impacts on legal and societal institutions. The documentary aims to combat such perceptions and demonstrate that AI can be a positive tool to address complex and unpredictable legal issues.
The film—divided into chapters—covers the history of tax, the evolution of AI in tax law, and its future in the legal field. Along with Professors Alarie, Niblett, and Yoon, other experts discussed their thoughts on the cutting-edge world of AI in the law, including former Dean Edward Iacobucci and former Supreme Court Justices Marshall Rothstein and Louise Arbour. The documentary ends on a hopeful note for the future of AI, which Prof. Alarie argues could lead to legal singularity, meaning the accurate prediction of legal outcomes.
The Future of Law Lab Director, Josh Morrison organized the premiere, which took place at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto. The event began with an address from Dean Jutta Brunnée, who discussed the importance of technology in the law in light of the changing norms of the 21st-Century. Dean Brunnée praised Professor Alarie and his team for making impactful and innovative advances in the law and for now being a movie star.
Prof. Alarie made his own remarks on the film, expressing how proud he was of the Blue J Legal team and the developments they have made in their AI technology. Justice Rothstein then gave a keynote speech discussing his perspective on the evolution of technology in the law and his excitement for the possibilities that could arise from using AI in the legal system. The event concluded with a panel led by Assistant Professor and Blue J Legal Innovation Strategist Abdi Aidid.
When asked about his experience at the premiere, Prof. Alarie said that “what was so magical about the evening was engaging with people who share my intense interest in the future of law. The turnout was strong, despite the cresting of yet another pandemic wave that swept up lots of expected attendees (including several of my family members).” He thanked Dean Brunnée for her generous opening remarks and noted Justice Rothstein’s “insightful” keynote. “Professor Aidid was compelling in engaging with the panel. The panelists were candid in wrestling with what it all means for the future” and “the support of Josh Morrison and the Future of Law Lab was incredible.” Prof. Alarie expressed his gratitude for being a member of “our curious and thoughtful law school community.”
The A.I. Taxman is available via the UDocs Film platform and accredited for 1.5 hours of Law Society of Ontario Professionalism training.
