AUSTIN—While artificial intelligence (AI) is the hot topic in in-house legal departments in 2018, the ethics governing its use are not fully realized. A panel of attorneys, both in-house and in private practice, however, said on Monday that the rules of professional conduct are perhaps the best way to approach the use of AI.

Carolyn Metnick, a partner at Akerman LLP, who is co-chair of its privacy, cybersecurity and emerging technologies team based in Chicago, said that it may still be a couple of years before guidance is issued on artificial intelligence.