[EDRM Editor’s Note: This article was first published here on January 28, 2025, and EDRM is grateful to Rob Robinson and Forbes Communications Council for permission to republish.]
The longbow, a weapon capable of changing the dynamics of medieval warfare, took centuries to become an established part of combat due to the training required and its disruption of established traditions. Despite its potential, its strategic value was only realized after it was fully embraced after its decisive role at the Battle of Agincourt.
Similarly, modern combat drones, despite their precision and ability to save lives by reducing direct human engagement, faced a period of initial inertia before becoming an indispensable military asset.
These examples highlight a common thread: The reluctance to embrace change often delays the realization of a technology’s potential.
The Tank: From Inertia To Success
The evolution of tank warfare offers another compelling parallel to AI adoption.
Tanks first appeared on the battlefield during World War I, deployed in small, isolated groups known as “penny packets.” This fragmented strategy failed to exploit their full potential. It wasn’t until World War II, when tanks were integrated into cohesive divisions supported by infantry and artillery, that they demonstrated their transformative power, combining mobility, firepower and coordination to redefine warfare.
AI today faces a similar challenge. When deployed in isolated use cases, such as automating single tasks or boosting individual productivity, its impact remains limited. However, organizations that integrate AI across departments and workflows—akin to the coordinated use of tank divisions—unlock systemic benefits.
The lesson is clear: Effective adoption requires strategic vision and organizational alignment, not piecemeal implementation.
Rob Robinson, Forbes Councils Member.
Overcoming The Inertia Of AI Acceptance
Much like historical military innovations, AI adoption encounters barriers rooted in tradition and resistance to change. Concerns about cost, accuracy and regulatory compliance echo the challenges faced by those introducing the longbow or tanks.
Overcoming this inertia requires a deliberate and strategic approach.
The key to success is leadership that champions AI adoption, demonstrating its value and aligning teams behind its implementation. Robust education and training programs play a crucial role, equipping teams with the skills and confidence to integrate AI effectively.
Furthermore, clear policies and ethical guidelines ensure responsible use, addressing concerns around privacy and compliance.
Generative AI In eDiscovery: A Case Study In Transformation
The eDiscovery industry provides a contemporary example of how AI can drive transformation when applied strategically. Historically, legal teams relied on manual document review—labor-intensive and costly processes ill-suited to managing the exponential growth of digital data.
Technology-assisted review (TAR) offered an initial leap forward, using machine learning to classify documents and reduce manual workloads. However, generative AI represents the next frontier.
I recently published one illustrative case study on ComplexDiscovery that was shared by my colleague John Brewer, chief artificial intelligence officer and chief data scientist of HaystackID. Manually, this process of reviewing approximately 130,000 documents would have taken an estimated 27 days, demanding significant time and resources. Using TAR, the same review was completed in about 10 days, showcasing a dramatic improvement in efficiency. With generative AI, the review time was reduced further, requiring only about five days.
This example highlights the potential of generative AI when leveraged strategically, demonstrating not only time savings but also enhanced scalability and accuracy in handling large datasets.
Success stories like these illustrate why generative AI is overcoming the initial adoption inertia. According to the Fall 2024 eDiscovery Business Confidence Survey published by ComplexDiscovery, 39% of organizations reported actively integrating generative AI into their workflows. This quarterly survey, conducted from November 12 to December 6, gathered insights from 61 invited industry professionals. Almost all of the remaining respondents indicated they were at various stages of evaluation and testing, highlighting a spectrum of adoption readiness.
This progression from limited application to full-scale adoption mirrors historical patterns of technology transformation, such as the evolution of mechanized warfare during World War II, where initial isolated tank deployments eventually developed into comprehensive strategic frameworks.
Lessons For Broader Industries
Although this article focuses on legal technology and eDiscovery, the lessons from AI adoption apply across industries. From healthcare to manufacturing, the transition from inertial to acceptance mirrors the dynamics seen in military innovations like the longbow and tank.
The key lies in understanding that technological breakthroughs require more than individual adoption; they demand organizational transformation.
Rob Robinson, Forbes Councils Member.
Industries that succeed in integrating AI into their core processes will achieve benefits ranging from cost savings and operational efficiency to enhanced decision-making and innovation. However, realizing these benefits requires moving beyond fragmented use to coordinated, strategic deployment.
Embracing AI As A Strategic Imperative
The adoption of transformative technology follows a familiar arc, from initial resistance to eventual integration. Whether on the battlefield or in professional industries, the transition from skepticism to acceptance often determines whether an innovation becomes a game changer or a missed opportunity.
Organizations that leverage generative AI collaboratively are not only enhancing efficiency but also redefining their competitive edge. Just as history has shown the power of the longbow and the tank when aligned with strategic vision, the same principles apply to AI.
For industries navigating the complexities of AI adoption, the path forward is clear: Embrace the lessons of history, overcome inertia, and unlock the full potential of innovation. As technology continues to redefine the boundaries of what is possible, the question remains: Will today’s leaders seize the moment and lead the charge toward transformation?
Originally published by Forbes Communications Council at Council Post: From Longbows To AI: Lessons In Embracing Technology
Assisted by GAI and LLM Technologies per EDRM GAI and LLM Policy.
