Most professionals view artificial intelligence (AI) as a means to accomplish tasks more efficiently, thereby saving time and costs. While efficiency gains are valuable, this mindset causes most leaders to overlook one key opportunity of AI: serving as a strategic thinking partner. Hunter McMahon, COO of iDiscovery Solutions (iDS), brings his unique perspective, combining a background in both technology and law, which has helped legal teams leverage expertise with technology to uncover data that tells compelling stories.
Digital Memory Outflanks Human Memory
The worlds of law and technology have become inextricably connected. Hunter began his career with a view from both of these worlds, “spending over a decade helping clients tell their story through data,” he says. Particularly as we think about evidence, where testimony may have once reigned supreme, the digital trail we all leave behind on a daily basis has put electronic evidence at the forefront of any dispute. “At its core, iDS is a firm that gets called when clients need digital evidence to tell their story,” Hunter explains. From data forensics to reviewing vast volumes of information, their job is to piece together what actually happened, which often differs from what people remember.
“Memory fades over time. For example, I can’t remember what I had for lunch last week,” he jokes. “But I guarantee you that between my credit card receipt, my colleague’s text message that afternoon saying ‘that burger was sooooo good,’ and perhaps a picture, we can weave it all together to tell the story of exactly what I had for lunch.”
As simple as that example sounds, it is illustrative of how access to data and being able to layer it together can tell a more complete story. “Understanding a mountain of information, putting it into context, and making it actionable is what great lawyers and leaders do every day,” says McMahon. That mindset is how he has built a successful approach to AI.
Collaborating with AI
Most business leaders approach AI with an efficiency mindset, but Hunter sees this as short-sighted. “The first thing you look for is efficiency. How can I do more with less?” he says. “The reality from a value perspective is you need to change in mindset and say, how can I do more with the same?” That shift makes a real difference.
With AI able to quickly generate a decent summary of a mountain of information, he can redirect time toward analysis and strategy. “Instead of spending 40 hours analyzing and summarizing something, AI can help me get a ‘good enough’ summary that will give me enough perspective to know where to prioritize more strategic time,” Hunter explains. That approach has not only enabled him to speed up results but also to gain greater clarity on the strategy.
He cautions that it’s not about expecting perfect answers, but about crafting better questions to weave through the layers of that mountain of information. “It’s not this magical button that you can press and woohoo, the perfect answers come out,” he says. “How you prompt or how you ask questions of the AI is as important because you can lead it down the wrong path, as we’ve seen happen.” He compares it to conversations with his teenage daughter: “You have to ask her the same questions seven different ways if you want the whole truth.”
Three Ways to Use AI for Better Thinking
While AI can help the team of experts at iDS in a variety of ways, Hunter has leveraged AI to help him think, not just move faster:
- AI as a Sounding Board
He often tests early-stage ideas with AI. “I like to use AI as a sounding board. I can provide it with the raw idea, give it some context, and ask for feedback, clarity, related industry examples for reference, potential barriers to adoption, etc.” It’s not limited to iterations with him; it can also help him communicate those ideas more clearly to others. “It has also prevented me from going down the path of some bad ideas,” he shares. - Quick Concept Checks
When new topics arise during a discussion, AI helps him catch up quickly. “Give me a five-sentence explanation on XYZ. Often that is enough to give me a quick understanding for context, while other times it will prompt me to ask for clarity openly as part of the discussion.” These quick refreshers allow him to stay engaged, make informed contributions, and avoid big misunderstandings. - Fresh Problem-Solving Approaches
For more complex challenges where he may be stuck, he leverages AI to suggest alternatives. “For example: Here is the historical context, the current situation, the perceived problem and related feedback, and my goal(s) within this time frame. What are potential changes I should consider (or avoid), and what are some potential blind spots I have about the underlying issues? It may not give me the perfect answer, but it can help me see around some corners”, he says.
The key is using AI as a starting point for human collaboration, not as a final answer. Even with AI’s support, experience still matters. “It’s not going to replace the human expertise entirely,” Hunter says. “You’re still going to need that experience that knows how to transform information into wisdom.” He’s also transparent about when AI contributes to his work. “I disclose that I’ve used AI because I want people to appreciate that it can be used responsibly, for an advantage, and that this is a clear example of that happening.”
Connect with Hunter McMahon on LinkedIn to explore more of his AI-driven insights.
