It’s only been days since DeepSeek’s AI breakthrough shook Silicon Valley, rattled global markets, and rolled back the myth of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ tech giants. It has left lawyers to weigh the implications for data privacy, regulation, and their own competitive edge.

Law firms do not have a clear answer. Some see opportunities, while others worry about compliance, an inflated investment market, and the future of billable hours. The legal world isn’t immune to upheaval, but rapid changes like this, which could have implications for their very survival, are a relatively new phenomenon.