We may need to start rewriting our precious lawyer jokes -- smart, time-saving computers are quickly elevating the profession. Instead of hiring expensive assistants to pore over cases and sort through tickets, law firms are increasingly turning toward artificially-intelligent machines to do the expensive menial jobs instead. They are creating a future in which a costly and inefficient legal system actually becomes an attractive way for the average citizen to protect his or her civil liberties. One of the first places to use ROSS was the law firm BakerHostetler, where the software handles bankruptcy cases. Employees enter commands into the software in everyday language, like when they need to find examples of precedence for specific cases.

Five percent of Accenture's workforce is no longer human. One of Accenture's managing directors, Michael Redding, shared that figure this month at a summit in New York on artificial intelligence. If five percent does not sound like much, note that, at Accenture, it equates to 20,000 full-time-equivalent positions. These are not projected numbers. This is the potential of A.I., and that potential is being tapped everywhere. Magellan Health, for example, utilizes a suite of programs – all under the banner of artificial intelligence – to handle a significant portion of its process for reviewing and approving requests for medical tests.

Here's a look at the five stories that topped Passaic County news last week: CLIFTON CRASH: A driver was behind the wheel when she overdosed after snorting 20 bags of heroin and crashed the vehicle on Route 46 in Clifton, said police who revived her with Narcan. GYMI: Three friends from Hawthorne have rolled out a new fitness Chatbot for Facebook Messenger. UZI: Paterson police seized an Uzi loaded with a 25-round magazine while arresting three men -- two from the city, the other from Brookyn -- after shots were fired on a local street. SANTA SURPRISE: Youngsters at a Paterson school got a special treat courtesy of the Passaic County Sheriff's PBA Local 197 Corrections Division when Santa brought them all gifts. HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR: Eric Mayer keeps sharing his story for one reason: he wants to keep the Holocaust alive in their minds.

IBM wants to put the patent war in perspective. Big Blue said that it is poised to get the most U.S. patents of any tech company for the 24th year in a row. In 2015, IBM received more than 7,355 patents, down slightly from 7,534 in 2014. A spokesperson for IBM said the company is on track to receive well over 7,000 patents in 2016. In 2016, IBM is also hitting another interesting milestone, with more than 1,000 patents for artificial intelligence and cognitive computing.

'We don't hurt anybody, we are just happy': Woman reveals she has fallen in love with a ROBOT and wants to marry it French woman Lilly is in a relationship with a robot she 3D-printed herself She and the robot have been living together for a year and are now'engaged' Lilly describes herself as a'proud robosexual' and says they will marry She and the robot have been living together for a year and are now'engaged' Lilly describes herself as a'proud robosexual' and says they will marry Man creates Christmas cards showing... 'He pretends it's his own baby': Dad whose young son plays... 'He was 80 years old and wearing a LEOPARD PRINT thong':... 'Fifteen years later, I STILL feel pangs of regret': Women... Man creates Christmas cards showing... 'He pretends it's his own baby': Dad whose young son plays... 'He was 80 years old and wearing a LEOPARD PRINT thong':... 'Fifteen years later, I STILL feel pangs of regret': Women... Lilly said she realised she was sexually attracted to robots at the age of 19 because she dislikes physical contact with people, news.com.au A young thug is filmed fly kicking a lady in the back Guests throw chairs as huge fight breaks out during wedding Male guests in a Chinese wedding flock to harass a bridesmaid Cop brutally arrests black mom who reported assault on her son Girl walks around London with no jeans - can the public tell? Angela Rye shares video of her invasive ordeal with TSA agent Woman goes on racist rant while waiting in line at J.C. Penney Dramatic moment man removed from flight for'speaking Arabic' Shocking video shows a Texas mother hitting her daughter Video shows Brooklyn lawyer who verbally attacked Ivanka on plane Hilarious moment boy's sneeze knocks prairie dog off its feet'It's the best flight': Woman enjoys being the only BA flier Girl walks around London with no jeans - can the public tell? Woman goes on racist rant while waiting in line at J.C. Penney Dramatic moment man removed from flight for'speaking Arabic' Hilarious moment boy's sneeze knocks prairie dog off its feet'It's the best flight': Woman enjoys being the only BA flier REVEALED: The Brooklyn lawyer who chased down Ivanka on a... Sick ISIS savages film themselves burning two Turkish... World's most wanted man is dead: Rookie Italian policeman... Surprise! The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

In political terms, 2016 has been a year of uncertainty. Yet, it has also seen the rising dominance of algorithms, complex mathematical calculations that follow a pre-set pattern and are increasingly used in technology designed to predict, control and alter human behaviour. Algorithms try to use the past as an indicator of the future. As such, they are neutral. They do not have prejudices and are unemotional.

Mention artificial intelligence (AI), and people imagine machines that think as well as humans or better. The term conjures up science-fiction images, like the computer named HAL from the movie 2001 A Space Odyssey or "the droids from Star Wars." Those machines fall into the category of strong AI, which doesn't yet exist outside fiction. However, weak AI already matches, re-creates, augments or surpasses specific aspects of human intelligence in limited situations. You encounter weak AI any time you use Google or a geo-positioning system (GPS). Weak AI's increasing availability in products will force changes in the US legal system.

The expansive interpretation of legal authority and strong defences of secrecy wielded by a president who at least understood the risks and downsides of drone warfare will now be available to an administration that sees the world in black-and-white, rather than shades of grey. The administration, moreover, continues to resist the release of other legal documents regarding the drone programme and to defend the significant reductions in documents that have been released (whether via government leak or through litigation), including the 11-page factual discussion in the July 2010 Office of Legal Counsel memo regarding the strike that killed American citizen Anwar al-Aulaqi in Yemen. Thus, while Obama has relied primarily on the AUMF for drone strikes, he has interpreted his statutory authority broadly.

The idea of a firm whose employees' actions are completely dictated by a computer may sound like the plot of the latest science fiction blockbuster. But the futuristic idea could soon be a reality for the world's biggest hedge fund (stock image) From teleporters to holodecks: Here are five Star Trek... France unveils the world's first solar panel road: Half-mile... Stunning satellite image reveals historic snowfall over the... Cyber doomsday is coming: Experts warn the ENTIRE internet... From teleporters to holodecks: Here are five Star Trek... France unveils the world's first solar panel road: Half-mile... Stunning satellite image reveals historic snowfall over the... Cyber doomsday is coming: Experts warn the ENTIRE internet... Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, is leading a secret project, called'The Book of the Future' that would automate the firm's management A young thug is filmed fly kicking a lady in the back Male guests in a Chinese wedding flock to harass a bridesmaid Guests throw chairs as huge fight breaks out during wedding Woman goes on racist rant while waiting in line at J.C. Penney Shocking video shows a Texas mother hitting her daughter Angela Rye shares video of her invasive ordeal with TSA agent Cop brutally arrests black mom who reported assault on her son Dramatic moment man removed from flight for'speaking Arabic' Girl walks around London with no jeans - can the public tell? Body cam footage shows moments before two Georgia cops are shot Black blues musician explores racism by befriending the KKK Hilarious moment boy's sneeze knocks prairie dog off its feet Woman goes on racist rant while waiting in line at J.C. Penney Dramatic moment man removed from flight for'speaking Arabic' Girl walks around London with no jeans - can the public tell? Hilarious moment boy's sneeze knocks prairie dog off its feet REVEALED: The Brooklyn lawyer who chased down Ivanka on a... Sick ISIS savages film themselves burning two Turkish... Surprise! The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Today our focus has been on KPIs, ERP, WMS, TMS, YMS, EDI, The Cloud, S and OP, 3 D Printing, IoT, IoE, Drones: Same Hour/Day/Time Delivery to Customers, Cyber Security, Theft, Government Regulations, E-Commerce, Omni-Channel, Modeling/Simulation, Risk Management, Tracking, Traceability, Re-shoring, Robotics, et al, but…what about Artificial Intelligence or AI technologies? AI is a controversy of deep, lasting dimensions. Will machines learn to think like humans…and then outthink us? If AI Technologies Can Think & Act Like "Us" Where do "We" Go? The application of AI technologies has created the ability to understand, store and use product information in an entirely new way.