AI is not new to RELX. The company has been deploying AI technologies for well over a decade, first with extractive AI, now generative AI, and more recently, agentic technologies. RELX is a big user of technology. Around 12,000 technologists, over half of whom are software engineers, work at RELX. Annually, the company spends $1.9bn on technology.

Vijay Raghavan, Chief Technology Officer at LexisNexis Risk Solutions; Jill Luber, Chief Technology Officer at Elsevier; and Jeff Reihl, Technology Chairman at LexisNexis Legal & Professional, discuss how their teams are harnessing AI to solve real-world problems and deliver meaningful impact.

A legacy of data-driven innovation

At the heart of RELX's technology strategy is a powerful blend of rich data, cutting-edge infrastructure and next-generation AI. Vijay Raghavan, CTO of LexisNexis Risk Solutions, reminisces about the early days when big data was just a concept. "We were big data before big data was cool," he says, explaining how RELX began transforming massive, diverse data sets into actionable insights. Through innovative extractive AI techniques, his team not only links billions of data points but also empowers customers, from insurance underwriters to healthcare professionals, to make informed decisions that reduce risk and drive success.

The new frontier: Generative and agentic AI

Jeff Reihl, Technology Chairman at LexisNexis Legal & Professional, describes an evolution that has redefined what’s possible in the legal domain. Harnessing the power of advanced models like GPT-3, even before ChatGPT became a household name, his team has shifted from simple natural language processing to dynamic, context-aware systems. These generative AI tools now enable legal professionals to generate case summaries, extract key data and navigate complex legal landscapes with unprecedented speed and accuracy.

Jill Luber, CTO at Elsevier, highlights a different challenge. In the world of research and healthcare, where peer-reviewed content is sacrosanct, her team is enhancing current offerings with innovative AI layers - ClinicalKey AI and ScienceDirect AI are such examples. These tools are designed to streamline the vast amounts of academic literature, ensuring that clinicians and researchers access concise, relevant information when they need it most.

Collaboration: The secret sauce

Central to RELX's success is an unwavering commitment to collaboration. Through 'The CTO Forum', the CTOs maintain a vibrant platform, one that spans across divisions, to share best practices, address security challenges and tap into the collective genius of the organisation. This synergy not only allows them to respond swiftly to market needs but also fosters an environment where ideas are freely exchanged and innovations are developed for the greater good.

Embracing AI

All three leaders emphasise the transformative potential of AI. They speak of agentic AI, systems that can autonomously understand context, reason through complex scenarios, and optimise workflows for professionals - from mergers and acquisitions (M&A) lawyers to nursing educators. RELX is embracing these AI technologies while upholding strict quality and security standards.

The CTOs also share a candid message for the wider workforce: dare to experiment and learn. They highlight that while AI may augment our capabilities, it is the human element - our ability to adapt, innovate and collaborate - that remains the true differentiator. "It’s not AI that will take your job; it’s someone else who learns to use AI better than you," says Vijay.

A culture of constant evolution

For RELX, the journey of technological innovation is continuous, one that blends tradition with cutting-edge breakthroughs, all while keeping customer needs and responsible practices at the forefront. Whether streamlining legal documentation, enhancing academic research, or mitigating risks in finance, RELX’s approach to technology enables its customers to make better decisions, get better results and be more productive. This isn’t just about innovation, it’s about enabling individuals and teams to adapt, improve and deliver results. At RELX, progress is driven by people who embrace change and focus on solving real-world challenges.

This article is based on a podcast with Vijay Raghavan, Jill Luber and Jeff Reihl: