Should a computer be recognised as an inventor?

Ask a child what an inventor looks like and they will probably describe someone in a moth-eaten white coat with wild hair, mixing colourful chemicals and turning dials on bizarre machines in a makeshift laboratory. But ask the same question of a child in the not-so-distant future and they might instead describe an inventing machine, a computer powered by artificial intelligence (AI), to which humanity has outsourced all innovation. As AI becomes more powerful, the role it plays in the creative process becomes more problematic, particularly for those involved in crafting intellectual property (IP) laws. IP laws are usually conceived to encourage innovation and economic growth, to offer fair compensation for creative work or to respect the dignity and honour of the creator. "Like most legislation, [IP law] is about pragmatic compromise between different stakeholders with different ideals and objectives," says Carrick Flynn, research project manager with the University of Oxford's Future of Humanity Institute.