Benjamin Alarie is the CEO and founder of Blue J, a leading generative AI solution for tax research. Trusted by more than 3,000 organizations worldwide, Blue J delivers fast, verifiable answers to complex tax questions, empowering professionals to provide exceptional client service. Before starting Blue J in 2015, he was a tax law professor and remains a respected academic, holding the Osler Chair in Business Law at the University of Toronto. His background includes degrees from the University of Toronto and Yale Law School, as well as a clerkship at the Supreme Court of Canada. Over the years, Benjamin has authored numerous academic publications and an award-winning book called The Legal Singularity, which explores how AI can reshape the legal field.
In this episode, Benjamin shares how Blue J uses AI to make tax research faster and more accessible, helping professionals quickly understand complex legal issues. He talks about the challenges of applying AI to tax law, a field often misunderstood as dry but rich with philosophical and social meaning. Benjamin also explains how his team works with OpenAI to improve their tools and how they balance advanced technology with the need for human judgment in legal decisions. Looking ahead, he sees a future where AI supports tax planning and compliance more deeply, transforming the way governments and firms operate. Throughout his journey, mentorship and community have been essential to his success as a founder and innovator.
