AI adoption has accelerated faster than expected. Law firms have moved from experimenting with AI to using it daily, showing that AI is now embedded in real legal work, not just pilots or trials.

Governance and ownership haven’t kept pace with usage. While AI use is widespread, many firms still lack clear leadership, budgets, and policies, creating risk and inconsistency as adoption scales.

The conversation has shifted from “should we use AI?” to “how do we manage it?” Compared to 2025, firms are more confident in AI’s value, but increasingly focused on control, accountability, and long-term strategy rather than tools alone.