Laurence Cheney, Head of Global Marketing Operations at Murgitroyd, and lead of the IP Inclusive Scotland Network, writes:
Thank you to everyone who registered for and attended our recent Scotland Network event: AI in IP: Cautious, Curious or Confident? It was a pleasure to see such a strong level of engagement from across the community.
We are very grateful to David Goldsby (Murgitroyd), Gideon Green (CMS) and John Gray (John Gray IP) for their insightful presentations, which set the tone for a thoughtful and practical discussion on the role of AI within the IP profession. Our thanks also go to our breakout session moderators, including David, Gideon, John and IP Inclusive committee members Amy Dawson (HGF), Margaret Hastie (Murgitroyd), Ryan Kellingray (Brodies) and Rachel Gillian (CMS), who also co-hosted the event.
The breakout sessions highlighted the breadth of perspectives across the profession — from cautious to confident — often shaped by role and responsibilities. Those providing legal advice understandably emphasised the need for caution, given the importance of accuracy, accountability and a full understanding of outputs. Others shared how AI is already embedded in their day-to-day work, supporting tasks such as summarising and comparing documents, refining written communications and improving efficiency.
Participants from academic and early-career backgrounds reflected on using AI for proofreading, study support and even personal organisation, while also noting the importance of building familiarity with these tools in a safe and controlled environment. A recurring theme was that, while AI can enhance the quality of outputs — particularly for junior professionals developing materials for more senior colleagues — it does not always save time, due to the need for careful review. There was also strong agreement on the importance of equipping the next generation with the skills to critically assess AI outputs, ensuring they can use these tools effectively while exercising sound professional judgement.
More broadly, several groups reflected on the challenge of keeping pace with the rapid evolution of AI technologies. In particular, agentic AI was identified as a likely next step, raising new considerations from both a skills and risk perspective as firms and practitioners seek to understand and adopt increasingly autonomous tools. There was also recognition that not all firms are equally positioned to respond to these developments; while larger firms may be able to invest in bespoke, enterprise-grade solutions, smaller firms and sole practitioners may face greater constraints.
Related to this, some groups highlighted potential workload implications arising from the increasing use of AI by clients. For example, work that might previously have been delivered in a concise format may now be significantly longer, requiring additional time to review, interpret and respond.
Across all groups, there was a shared recognition of the importance of maintaining the human element. AI can help ‘polish’ written work, but care must be taken to avoid losing individual voice and professional judgement. Attendees also noted that “AI” covers a broad spectrum of technologies, with much of the current discussion focused on generative AI tools.
Encouragingly, the overall sentiment was one of cautious optimism. While some expressed concerns, others described AI as an exciting opportunity — particularly for those at earlier stages in their careers. There was also agreement on the need for ongoing support, particularly for individuals moving into new roles where they may have had limited exposure to AI tools.
Thank you once again to everyone who contributed to such an engaging and constructive discussion.
If you registered but were unable to attend, or if you missed the event, you can watch the recording here: