Nine great industry news stories from this week you may have missed.

First-Ever Canadian Law Awards

Via Canadian Lawyer

Nominations are now open for the inaugural Canadian Law Awards. The awards have over 30 categories including Canadian Deal of the Year, Law Department Leader of the Year, Commercial Litigation Team of the Year, Canadian Boutique Law Firm of the Year and Managing Partner of the Year. All nominations will be reviewed by an independent judging panel of leading lawyers and will be accepted until February 4, 2020. Winners will be announced in March. Get all the details here. 

Don't Panic About AI

Via Scientific American

Certain forms of AI are becoming ubiquitous. From algorithms on our social media platforms to Siri and Alexa, artificial intelligence has become a part of everyday life for most Canadians. Why then, do so many people fear its future? Perhaps we've watched too many movies that show malign, powerful and man-made intelligent machines taking over the world. Scientific American's recent article is debunking these concerns and explains why, if AI does eventually prove to be our downfall, it's unlikely to be at the hands of robots with aggression or retribution. 

Digital Transformation is Changing Project Management 

Via Tech Radar

Technology has and will continue to change most jobs. As companies continue to incorporate digital tools in all aspects of their operations, the digital transformation that lies ahead is inevitable. This week, Tech Radar broke down what exactly these changes will mean for project managers. From asynchronous communication to keeping analytics at the forefront, there's lots to come. 

City of Hamilton Data Breach

Via Global News

Residents of Hamilton, Ont., are on edge after receiving news that a city-wide data breach may compromise their personal information. According to Global News, the City of Hamilton's water-related billing data may have been accessed by third-party vendors. This data includes customer names, addresses and tax assessment roll numbers. Learn all the details here. 

Secrets from Corporate Counsel 

Via Relativity

This week, Relativity explained why law firms should be using KNIVES — but not the kind you're thinking of. Instead, they share an acronym that helps corporate counsels stay agile, ahead of the curve and well, sharp like a knife. Learn what exactly this term stands for and how it's helping firms across the globe here.

StatsCan Privacy Concerns

Via CBC

In the fall of 2018, an investigation was launch when Statistics Canada asked several banks to give the financial transaction data of about 500,000 Canadians as part of a pilot project. While Canada's privacy watchdog says that the agency did not break any laws by doing so, it raised "significant privacy concerns." Learn the details of the story on CBC.

Have Yourself a Merry Legal Podcast

Via Above the Law

If you've already powered through our top five podcasts to listen to if you work in legal tech, check this out. Above the Law is recommending their top podcast picks to binge during the holidays. From ABA updates to using the cloud, their list covers everything you'll want to hear to stay up to date over the winter break. 

Toys 'R' Us is Back — With More Surveillance

Via Wired

After filing for bankruptcy and closing more than 800 stores, the iconic Toys 'R' Us brand is back. In addition to opening two new stores in the U.S., the company has also teamed up with a startup company to install sensors in the stores' ceilings. The purpose? To track people as they shop. Immediately, Toys 'R' Us was faced with criticism as people over social media accused them of spying on kids to produce data for brands. While the company behind the cameras has explained that children will not be included in their data findings, it seems that their statement has created more questions than reassurance. Read Wired's article to learn more. 

The Case for Artificial Intelligence

Via Ricoh

In case you missed it, our very own Sean Lynch, Director of Legal and Compliance Solutions, was featured in Canadian Lawyer Magazine this past week. In his article, The Case for Artificial Intelligence, Sean explains why active learning and similar machine learning tools will become the norm in 2020.