Reflection on the impacts of artificial intelligence on business and human rights and freedoms. Possible risks, protection needs and future perspectives. The purpose of the course is to help students understand the legal implications related to the design and use of artificial intelligence systems, providing an overview of the risks and legal protections that can be envisaged and giving an overview of the legislation and legal principles currently applicable on the subject.
In particular, the profiles of civil and criminal liability, protection in terms of intellectual property and the impacts of AI on the fundamental rights of the individual - including privacy and the right to non-discrimination – will be examined.
The course is structured in 4 weeks.
Week 1 – Artificial Intelligence, Law and legal issues
Week 2 – Artificial Intelligence and Liability
Week 3 – Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property
Week 4 – Artificial Intelligence and risks to fundamental rights
In particular, Week 1 will introduce the topic of Artificial Intelligence and the state of the art of its regulation at legislative level. The main legal issues will also be introduced.
In Week 2 the liability aspects of using and manufacturing Artificial Intelligence will be analysed, focusing on the existing legal framework about civil liability both arising from contractual and non-contractual damages and eventually about criminal liability.
Week 3 will focus on Artificial Intelligence systems’s intellectual property aspects, both in terms of the protection of the AI system created and the protection of the work created by an AI system.
Week 4 focuses on the risks to fundamental rights arising from the usage of Artificial Intelligence, such as privacy, information and massive surveillance and related potentially compressed freedoms.
By actively participating in this MOOC, you will achieve different intended learning outcomes (ILOs).
Week 1
Recognize that the use of AI requires to be analysed, evaluated and addressed also from a legal point of view.
Week 2
Indicate the main legal concepts of liability for the conduct and choices made by or through intelligent systems and compensation for any consequential damage.
Identify the practical impacts of responsibility and compensation for damages caused from AI, with specific reference to case-studies.
Verify whether and which criminal law principles apply when an offence is committed by an AI system.
Week 3
Recognize the difference between copyright and patent with respect to the protection of AI systems created.
Identify legislative gaps with respect to the protection of works created autonomously by AI.
Week 4
Recognize the risks to fundamental rights and freedoms deriving from non-regulated uses of AI.
Identify the principal conditions for data processing and the limits set out by the law to protect privacy and human rights.
