AI and the law

Artificial intelligence and automation are responsible for a growing number of decisions by pubic authorities in areas like criminal justice, security and policing and public administration, despite having proven flaws and biases. Facial recognition systems are entering public spaces without any clear accountability or oversight. Lawyers must play a greater role in ensuring the safety and accountability of advanced data and analytics technologies, says Karen Yeung at the University of Birmingham. The dream of artificial intelligence stretches back seven decades, to a seminal paper by Alan Turing. But only recently has AI been commercialized and industrialized at scale, weaving its way into every nook and cranny of our lives.