Douglas Wood on Law, Writing, and the Compliance Risks of AI: From Media Negotiations to Deadly Bytes

Welcome to the SBR-Author’s Podcast! In this podcast series, Host Tom Fox visits with authors in the compliance arena and beyond. In this episode, Tom Fox welcomes Douglas J. Wood about his latest book, Deadly Bytes. Tom interviews former media and entertainment lawyer Douglas J. Wood about his 50-year legal career, his transition from representing entertainers to corporate studios and advertisers, and his later pivot to writing, which now totals 12 books, including eight novels. Douglas describes how legal research and interviewing skills support fiction but argues that fiction is harder because it requires creation, character development, and plausible plotting. He explains his focus on thriller writing as influenced by his studio work and authors like Ludlum and Clancy and outlines his process of extensive research and iterative drafting. Douglas discusses his novel Deadly Bytes, featuring an FBI profiler pursuing an AI serial killer. He connects it to real-world concerns: criminals already using AI for phishing and deepfakes, potential manipulation of evidence, AI hallucinations, and the risk that heavy AI use in law erodes lawyer apprenticeship and human judgment in negotiation and investigation. Key highlights: From Lawyer to Writer Fiction vs Nonfiction Doug’s Writing Process Inside Deadly Bytes Crime and Compliance Risks Advice for Aspiring Authors Resources: Douglas J. Wood on LinkedIn Douglas J. Wood Website Deadly Bytes click here Tom Fox Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn