Adobe Introduces Acrobat AI Assistant to Simplify Legal Contracts

Adobe, known for its long-term subscription model, has launched a new add-on for Acrobat that aims to make it easier for users to read and understand legal contracts. The feature, called Acrobat AI Assistant, is built into Adobe’s Acrobat PDF reader and is available as a $4.99 per month add-on for both free and paid tiers of the app.

The Problem with Legal Contracts

Recent surveys have found that 70 percent of consumers admit to signing contracts without fully understanding the terms within them. This suggests that 30 percent of people actually read through contracts in their entirety, which seems generous. Adobe’s AI Assistant is designed to address this issue by surfacing key terms with citations and recommending questions a user might ask to fully understand what they are signing.

The Risks of AI Language Models

However, AI language models are not perfect and can produce text that looks like a factual synthesis of the information they are provided, but may not be entirely accurate. This raises concerns about the risk of users signing contracts without fully understanding them, which could lead to legal issues. While pleading ignorance may not make a contract invalid, it is still a risk that users should be aware of.

The Importance of Transparency

Major companies often use complex language in user agreements to protect themselves from liability. A tool like Acrobat AI Assistant could at least surface details like this and explain them in a way that individuals can understand. This could help to increase transparency and reduce the risk of users signing contracts without fully understanding the terms.

Adobe’s Subscription Model

Adobe’s move to a subscription model for apps like Photoshop has been met with criticism from fans, who feel that it creates a lock-in effect and makes it difficult to cancel subscriptions early. The company’s use of dark patterns to keep customers locked in has also been a subject of controversy. While subscription models can create recurring, predictable revenue streams, they can also lead to a lack of transparency and trust between companies and their customers.

Conclusion

The introduction of Acrobat AI Assistant is a step in the right direction towards increasing transparency and reducing the risk of users signing contracts without fully understanding them. However, it is still a tool that relies on AI language models, which can be imperfect. As with any technology, users should be aware of the potential risks and take steps to protect themselves.