America’s criminal justice system relies on public defenders to represent anyone without access to a private attorney. But public defenders are chronically under-resourced and overburdened with caseloads. Can technology help lessen that load and, in effect, make the criminal justice system more just? This week’s guest, Devshi Mehrotra, says yes. Devshi is co-founder and CEO of JusticeText, a startup developing AI software to help lawyers search and review case material more efficiently and enhance police accountability. She joins Reid and Aria to talk about JusticeText’s offerings and opportunities, along with public-private partnerships and local governments’ evolving attitudes toward AI and innovation. Plus, a public defender shares her experience using JusticeText and Devshi demos the platform. For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ Topics:3:10 - Hellos and intros6:47 - What inspired the creation of JusticeText10:38 - What America’s public defenders are up against12:35 - How JusticeText can help14:32 - On being a for-profit company 18:11 - Creating a new market20:47 - JusticeText’s customer base 23:33 - Midroll 23:41 - A testimony from a public defender using the platform24:40 - Requests for new features25:58 - JusticeText demo28:50 - How AI is supporting, not replacing, public defenders’ jobs30:23 - The intersection of government and technology32:53 - How local governments are thinking about AI34:59 - Other technologies that could improve the justice system37:28 - What entrepreneurial advice Devshi would give her younger self 38:43 - The future of JusticeText 40:42 - Rapid-fire questions
Top comments
What if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Possible is an award-winning, weekly podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger explore what’s possible with forward-thinking leaders, deep thinkers, and ambitious builders across many fields, such as technology, art, education and healthcare. These conversations center on the ways technology—and, in particular, AI—is shaping the future. In episodes, AI tools such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Inflection’s Pi are at work, offering informational asides, prompting guests, or demoing what they can do. Last...