About Midwest Frontier AI Consulting
This consultancy, founded by Chad Ratashak, focuses on helping small- and medium-sized law firms based in the U.S. Midwest use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools, such as large language models (LLMs).
While there is a lot of hype around AI, lawyers have repeatedly misused it and faced potential or actual professional consequences. However, there is still real value for those who learn to use generative AI responsibly. Chad's goal is to help small and medium law firms and other businesses discern when to use AI and when not to use AI. Midwest Frontier AI Consulting has questionnaires to help you build policies for both a) a full ban on generative AI or b) a policy allowing specific approved tools and use cases with appropriate training under certain guidelines.
Generative AI misuse can result in one or more serious potential professional consequences including: fines around $5K, refunding the client for time spent on erroneous citations, opposing attorneys’ fees for time spent responding to the erroneous citations, remedial CLE for the attorneys involved in the erroneous citations, costs for after-the-fact generative AI governance policy, reputational damage, and loss of the motion/appeal. :::
Equipping Clients with Knowledge
We are not selling any particular software, device, or tool. Instead, we want to equip our clients with the knowledge to be effective users of whichever generative AI tools they choose to use. This may mean realizing that all they need is a free tool or getting the most value they can out of an expensive subscription.
It may also mean making an informed decision not to use GenAI tools. With GenAI features being added to familiar software like Microsoft Word or Google Search, opting out of GenAI is an intentional decision rather than a default. We can help clients with this option as well, understanding how to limit GenAI exposure as much as possible.
LLMs hallucinate, which means convincingly wording factually incorrect information. LLMs also have a bias toward sycophancy, or telling the user what they want to hear.
Our training and AI consultation will help you design workflows that take these challenges into consideration
Why the Name? Why the Bird?
Midwest: Based in Iowa and serving the surrounding region. Our region has contributed significantly to the development of LLMs and other generative AI with data centers across the region, but the focus tends to be on the coasts.
Frontier: Double meaning. First, we are on the old “frontier at the start of the Great Plains and the Transcontinental Railroad. Second, in 2023, Anthropic (Claude), Google (Gemini), Microsoft (Copilot, Phi), and OpenAI (ChatGPT), announced the Frontier Model Forum. “The Forum defines frontier models as large-scale machine-learning models that exceed the capabilities currently present in the most advanced existing models, and can perform a wide variety of tasks.”OpenAI
AI: The focus here is on Frontier AI models, particularly generative AI models.
Consulting: We are not selling software. Our services are governance and training focused on responsible generative AI adoption, particularly in law.
Red-Winged Blackbird Logo: Red-Winged Blackbirds aggressively monitor the prairie for danger. They constantly scan an apparently monotonous sea of grass for threats to their nest. Likewise, Midwest Frontier AI Consulting is staying current on the latest generative AI threats, risks, models, use cases, and industry trends to provide quality advice and training to our clients. Our mission is not abstract: we want to encourage the ethical and responsible AI use in law, medicine, education, and other high-impact areas in our own backyard in the Midwest for our kids’ futures.
Other Services for Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs)
We will also help companies understand how GenAI will change their industry in ways they cannot control. For example, more customers may find them through ChatGPT or ask questions about their business using Gemini on Google Maps. They may also worry about competing GenAI substitutes to their core services and need to understand how to market themselves effectively or considering pivoting.