WSJ Tech News Briefing

Episode Title: The Chatbots Have Entered the Courtroom
Host: Patrick Coffey
Date: January 9, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of the WSJ Tech News Briefing tackles two major themes at the intersection of technology and society:

1. How Instagram Reels evolved from a TikTok imitation to a multibillion-dollar business rivaling YouTube
2. The growing but cautious adoption of AI—and even chatbots—by judges in the U.S. legal system, raising questions about the future of AI in the courtroom

The discussion combines the latest industry insights with reporting from WSJ journalists Megan Bobrowski and Erin Mulvaney.

1. The Rise of Instagram Reels

(00:19–04:53)

A TikTok Copycat No More

• Reels' Transformation & Algorithm Overhaul
  Megan Bobrowski explains Reels' journey from a much-criticized TikTok clone to a $50 billion revenue machine.

  • Instagram had to "reconfigure [its] algorithm from scratch" to prioritize user behavior over follower networks.
  • “Instagram used to be a place where you would go to see content from your friends and your family and people you follow pretty much exclusively... they had to figure out a way to essentially make Instagram more like TikTok." – Megan Bobrowski (01:42)
  • Key technical pivot: Reels now recommends videos based on watch behaviors, mirroring TikTok's successful model.

• Supporting Original Content & Creator Payments

  • Reels emphasized original content and actively paid creators to fuel its growth.

Reels' Surging Ad Revenue

• Surpassing YouTube in projected ad revenue—anticipated to surpass $50 billion run rate, per Mark Zuckerberg.
  • “Reels is a real competitor in the space and deserves to be taken seriously. It's no longer just this TikTok wannabe." – Megan Bobrowski (03:01)
  • During Meta’s antitrust trial, Reels’ ascendance helped cement the idea that Meta faces real competition.

Shifting from "Social" to "Entertainment"

• Internal shift: Meta now frames Instagram not as a social network, but an entertainment platform.
  • “They sort of are now talking about Instagram as a social experience... more watching things akin to TV.” – Megan Bobrowski (03:51)
• Meta is experimenting with Instagram on TV devices, indicating a move towards shared, living-room-style viewing.

2. Chatbots & AI in the Courtroom

(05:53–11:13)

AI in Legal Practice: Not Without Controversy

• Recent scandals: Lawyers submitting AI-generated briefs using tools like ChatGPT, resulting in fictional cases and judicial sanctions.
• Judges now sometimes ban AI in legal submissions, but paradoxically, are also beginning to use it themselves for efficiency.

How Judges Use AI (So Far)

• Erin Mulvaney describes that judges are not “just plopping [AI] in and saying, ‘hey, here’s a decision, ChatGPT, tell me what to do’.” (06:28)

• Current uses:

  • Synthesizing and reviewing vast swathes of legal documents
  • Gathering arguments and prior case law
  • Generating suggested questions for hearings based on the record
  • Accelerating back-office routines, not substantive legal rulings

• Anecdotal, Cautious Adoption

  • While tools are widely available (LexisNexis, etc.), no comprehensive data exists on usage rates among judges.
  • Law clerks commonly use these tools.
  • Most judicial use is still anecdotal; a minority of "crusaders" are pushing the technology forward.
  • “I assume it's happening more than we realize. But I do think it's a pretty small group of crusaders who are really big proponents.” – Erin Mulvaney (08:34)

The Blurring Line & Judicial Caution

• Patrick notes the “blurry line” between using AI for routine work vs. decisions. (07:08)

• Judges worry about:

  • Machine-influenced decisions
  • Overlooking errors
  • Erosion of trust in the adjudication process

• Quote:
  “Even the judge I quoted who's a big proponent of it said, you know, he would never trust anything wholesale with these tools. But judges have these really important roles adjudicating over things that really matter to people's lives... they are probably going to be slower to jump ahead than other industries just because of that role.” – Erin Mulvaney (09:41)

• Judges balance their own cautious experimentation with a growing role as "referees" policing lawyer abuses of AI.

History Lessons & the Long View

• Resistance to past technologies—like fax machines—shows courts' conservative culture.
  • “I talked to one judge who said that there was a lot of drama about using fax machines in courts...” – Erin Mulvaney (10:03)
• Mulvaney predicts that as technology matures and errors are reduced, responsible use policies will shape adoption, not outright bans.
  • “The more knowledge you have about how to use them responsibly, that'll be the answer to the future, rather than ignoring technology.” – Erin Mulvaney (11:04)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "Instagram used to be a place where you would go to see content from your friends and your family... they had to figure out a way to essentially make Instagram more like TikTok."
  – Megan Bobrowski (01:42)
• "Reels is a real competitor in the space and deserves to be taken seriously. It's no longer just this TikTok wannabe."
  – Megan Bobrowski (03:01)
• "They sort of are now talking about Instagram as a social experience... more watching things akin to TV."
  – Megan Bobrowski (03:51)
• "They definitely aren't quite using it to just plop in and say, hey, here's a decision. ChatGPT, tell me what to do."
  – Erin Mulvaney (06:28)
• "I assume it's happening more than we realize. But I do think it's a pretty small group of crusaders who are really big proponents."
  – Erin Mulvaney (08:34)
• "They are probably going to be slower to jump ahead than other industries just because of that role."
  – Erin Mulvaney (09:41)
• "There was a lot of drama about using fax machines in courts..."
  – Erin Mulvaney (10:03)
• "The more knowledge you have about how to use them responsibly, that'll be the answer to the future, rather than ignoring technology."
  – Erin Mulvaney (11:04)

Segment Timestamps

• 00:19 — Meta’s Reels origin story & business turnaround
• 01:37 — Algorithm changes and boosting content recommendation
• 02:46 — Growth of Reels ad sales and competitive landscape
• 03:28 — Moving from social to entertainment platform
• 04:20 — Meta’s push towards TV-based Instagram experiences
• 05:53 — AI scandals and legal community backlash
• 06:28 — How judges are currently experimenting with AI
• 07:36 — The blurry line between admin work and judicial decision-making
• 08:34 — Scope and anecdotal nature of AI adoption by federal judges
• 09:41 — Judges’ balancing act: AI’s promise vs. human oversight

Tone and Final Impressions

The episode maintains a measured, insightful tone, blending healthy skepticism about AI’s courtroom role with an appreciation for innovation, both from social media and legal perspectives. From Instagram’s impressive transformation to the legal world’s slow, cautious technological embrace, WSJ’s reporters clarify not only the “what” but the “why” behind these pivotal trends.

Ideal For:
Listeners interested in tech-driven business shifts, digital platforms, the future of legal practice, and the societal impact of artificial intelligence.

Skipped:
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