The dark side of artificial intelligence : challenges for the legal system

Abstract

The development of artificial intelligence has the potential to transform lives and work practices, raise efficiency, savings and safety levels, and provide enhanced levels of services. However, the current trend towards developing smart and autonomous machines with the capacity to be trained and make decisions independently holds not only economic advantages, but also a variety of concerns regarding their direct and indirect effects on society as a whole. This article examines some of these concerns, specifically in the areas of privacy and autonomy, state surveillance, and bias and algorithmic transparency. It concludes with an analysis of the challenges that the legal system faces in regulating the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence.