A recent Above the Law article points to a disconnect between how law firm management portrays AI adoption and what is actually happening in practice. The piece cites workforce analytics firm Visier, which sees a pattern of visible compliance—actions taken to appear AI-ready—rather than meaningful integration of AI tools into legal work.
According to the article, this dynamic means firms may be investing in optics, such as policies or pilot programs, without achieving the cultural or operational changes needed for real AI use. The gap between management's expectations and the reality of daily practice is a central concern.
Because the piece relies on a single source's observation, it does not provide independent data or contrasting viewpoints. Still, it raises a question for law firm leaders: are they building AI capability or just the appearance of it?