If 2025 has taught us anything so far, it is that information managers are standing on moving ground.
These issues in particular keep cropping up in our work at Jinfo:
- how artificial intelligence is reshaping our work, not least with legal sources
- how challenging vendor management can be, for instance when working with expert networks
- due diligence and integrity research.
Legal information vendors and AI tools are teaming up
On the legal research side, the "big names" are racing to embed AI into their platforms. Strategic acquisitions and shiny new alliances promise deeper integration and smarter results, but we are still waiting to see their performance on accuracy and efficiency.
My colleague Stephen has written a very interesting report about this:
... and especially notes the following movements in the market:
- Clio acquired vLex
- LexisNexis partners Harvey
- Thomson Reuters launches CoCounsel.
In the report, Stephen cites Professor Alex Zhang (Duke University School of Law) who believes that the current move to GenAI is:
"A shift from truth-based information discovery to plausible approximation."
This implies that managers must weigh the benefits of speed against the risks of errors and hallucinations, and decide how much trust to place in vendor promises.
Finally, Stephen concludes that GenAI will not break the Lexis/Westlaw duopoly overnight. If anything, by embedding GenAI capabilities directly into their products, they are more likely to reinforce their dominance.
But disruption is possible:
- Clio–vLex may offer a credible third path
- Regulators and clients are demanding transparency
- Open data initiatives continue to mature.
Read the report.
Managing expert networks by using Inex One
Meanwhile, in the world of expert networks, information managers are grappling with an excess of contracts and vendors.
Effectively managing expert networks requires more than just cost control. It demands transparency, efficiency, and strategic oversight.
The product "Inex One" addresses these challenges by offering a centralised platform that streamlines sourcing, scheduling, billing, and knowledge management, while also supporting compliance and internal governance.
I have written the detailed report "Product review of Inex One", which gives users an idea of how this works.
The company was founded by Max Friberg, and his motivation was precisely the lack of oversight and the cumbersome processes that the platform now streamlines.
In the recorded webinar "A look at Inex One with Max Friberg", Max and I discuss how the company is addressing this, and we take a look around the platform.
See all our expert-network coverage in this Blog.
Due diligence and integrity research
New legislation is accelerating the need to conduct deeper due diligence on clients, suppliers, and partners.
Information managers' skills (research, product knowledge, data access, and analytical expertise) are playing a vital role in developing their organisations' compliance work.
Register for our Community session "Due diligence and integrity research – expanding the role of information managers" (22nd October 2025) for real-world approaches and common pitfalls.
Action points for information managers
What ties all these developments together is a common thread: transparency and accountability.
Whether you are negotiating legal research contracts or vetting expert calls, the key questions are the same:
- What exactly am I paying for?
- How do I check the quality?
- Can I get better value through comparison or consolidation?
To overcome these challenges, our recommendations are:
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Challenge the "AI premium"
Don't accept add-on costs without evidence of time saved or risk reduced.
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Insist on transparency
Whether it's sources behind a GenAI summary, or pricing for expert calls, clarity is your strongest lever.
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Pilot and compare
Run side-by-side tests of tools and vendors to build your own evidence base.
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Protect knowledge and intellectual property
Look for solutions that capture, transcribe, and make insights reusable rather than lost in the ether.
The tools may be new, the promises shiny, but the fundamentals haven’t changed: information managers create value by asking the right questions, testing the claims, and holding vendors to account.
Feedback
As always, your feedback shapes our research direction. What are you finding most challenging about AI? What skills are you prioritising? Is our research useful? Let us know through our contact form.
