It is inevitable, given the enormous media-driven concern generated by the recent application of artificial intelligence (AI) to an ever-expanding spectrum of day-to-day human experience, that the need for a clearly articulated legal response has become imperative. This book both clarifies the controversial issues surrounding the use of AI and explores in great detail how, far from being “unregulated,” the creation, distribution, and operation of AI systems currently is, and will remain, subject to a vast array of existing laws and regulations all over the world.

Demonstrating beyond any doubt that the traditional concepts of legal responsibility, including duty of care, negligence, and compensation for damages, will always be applicable to those humans who create and/or use artificially intelligent things or systems, the author shows how AI systems are clearly implicated in numerous existing legal regimes, including the following:

• relevant provisions under international law and EU law;

  
  



• applicable provisions in the laws of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore; and

  
  



• numerous national provisions in the legal fields of health and safety, intellectual property, competition, privacy and data protection, and military engagement.

  
  

However, given the lack of international consensus on this vitally important issue, the author suggests that any worldwide agreement on the legal responsibilities relating to the use of AI will need to be carefully defined, and that provisions will need to be reviewed to determine how they will apply to any new range of artificially intelligent creations.

The purpose of this book is to review those legal concepts, throughout the world, that currently govern the application of AI and to comment on modifications or extensions of the rule of law that are being proposed as necessary to serve and protect humanity in relation to the expanding applications of AI. It is important that anyone who uses or is affected by AI products understands the relationship between existing laws and regulations in major markets around the world and those areas where initial regulations may be required. For them, for their counsel, and for the various policy and regulatory authorities confronted with AI issues, this book will prove an essential guide.