1. Identify, explain and analyse key concepts, principles, theories and instruments relating to the regulation of artificial intelligence.
2. Evaluate challenges posed by artificial intelligence to established legal concepts.
3. Reflect on the interaction of the operation of legal principles with ideas and concepts drawn from other disciplines.
4. Propose an appropriate solution to a contemporary legal problem relating to artificial intelligence, through the application of relevant legal and ethical principles.

Students will undertake a practical case study as the sole element of assessment on this module. Students will have a choice of topics for consideration, to allow for individual student interest and to reflect contemporary issues in artificial intelligence, which is a fast-moving area. The assessment will require students to take a multi-disciplinary approach in their practical evaluation of a legal problem, and to propose a solution which addresses in a practical manner the legal challenges posed by AI (LOs 1-4)

The module will challenge students to consider ethical, moral and legal questions relating to the development of Artificial Intelligence, the uses to which it is put in society, and the challenges it raises to fundamental concepts across a range of areas of law. Students will consider a range of national and international frameworks for the regulation of AI.

Origins and definitions of artificial intelligence (AI).
AI challenges to legal concepts, such as subjects and agents, and causation.
Responsibility for AI
AI and its impact on concepts in Tort, Contract and Criminal Law
The creation of works and artefacts by AI: questions of ownership.
Robot rights.
Arguments for and against the extension of legal personality to robots.
Frameworks and instruments for regulating AI.
Case studies: these may change to reflect current issues but illustrative examples of AI might include, autonomous vehicles, AI in healthcare, the use of algorithms in decision-making, and military applications.

What do we mean when we talk about artificial intelligence? Should robots have rights? Can robots commit crimes? How should we regulate the use of artificial intelligence in society? These are some of the questions you will be challenged to consider in this module. You will be considering how the existence of technology which can make decisions independent of humans impacts on our understanding of fundamental principles of law, and learning about the legal principles, frameworks and regulations which seek to govern the use of artificial intelligence. This module is a Core Module for the Digital Pathway of the LLB and is also available as an elective on other pathways.

Tutor contact hours will be made up of 1 hour per week lecture and a 2 hour workshop (39 total contact hours)

The lecture is designed primarily for tutor exposition of the key concepts, principles and regulatory framework surrounding Artificial Intelligence. Students will have access to the lecture materials prior to the lecture and should also carry out any set preparatory reading.

Students will prepare for workshops by completing set readings and tasks, orientated towards, firstly, consolidation of subject content presented in lectures, and secondly, consideration of the wider context of this subject area including fields such as technology and ethics. Workshops will then provide students with opportunities to apply their knowledge to a variety of different learning tasks to promote understanding, engagement and co-construction of knowledge. The structure of workshops may vary according to the topic under consideration, for example taking a seminar-based approach for reflection on the arguments and implications of set readings from a range of disciplines in a structured manner. Students may expect to spend approximately 6-8 hours per work engaged in preparing for small group sessions. These sessions will be orientated towards consideration of possible legal responses and solutions to the problems posed by AI.

The balance of independent study hours will be devoted to research, planning, writing and editing of individual case study (4000 words).

Core Text

Turner J, Robot Rules: Regulating Artificial Intelligence (Palgrave Macmillan 2019)

Recommended reading

Abbass HA, Scholz J and Reid DJ Foundations of Trusted Autonomy (e-book in University library)

Alemi M, The Amazing Journey of Reason: from DNA to Artificial Intelligence (e-book in University library)

Gellers JC, Rights for Robots (Routledge 2020)

Grant TD and Wischik DJ On the Path to AI: Law’s Prophecies and the Conceptual Foundations of the Machine Learning Age (e-book in University library)

Kormelink J, Responsible Innovation: Ethics, Safety and Technology (e-book in University library)

Laima J and Bunz M, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things (e-book in University library)

Digital legal databases: WestLaw and LexisNexis


Additional readings will be assigned from e-journals available from the University Library, including:
Applied Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence and Law
Artificial Intelligence and Medicine
Ethics and information technology

Blogs:
Artificial Lawyer legal technology blog with a focus on artificial intelligence https://www.artificiallawyer.com/
DeepMind - News & Blog https://deepmind.com/blog/