Artificial Intelligence — The Practical Legal Issues

Artificial Intelligence remains a complex and rapidly evolving technology. Since the first edition of this book there have been a number of significant legislative and policy initiatives which are beginning to shape the nascent approaches that international regulators will adopt when regulating the use of machine learning and AI. In a fast moving specialist area, it is essential to keep pace. If you are lost and need clear direction, ‘Artificial Intelligence – The Practical Legal Issues‘ will guide you through the policy updates and implications of existing AI technologies and provide a practical and easily digestible path to the real issues you need to consider as a legal practitioner.

This book contains a grounding of what differentiates artificially intelligent systems from traditional technology and explains the differences between AI, Machine Learning and Deep Learning. Understanding what AI systems can and cannot do is also essential to developing a clear legal awareness of the technology. From these introductory foundations, you’ll learn how the deployment of AI technology creates issues and risks that need to be considered carefully and that permeate across causation, intellectual property ownership, confidentiality and data protection, recruitment and even criminal law.

This 2nd Edition contains an entirely new chapter on one of the most exciting emergent AI technologies, Automated Facial Recognition, which led to the UK’s first Court of Appeal AI judgment in 2020 – R v South Wales Police. Recent developments in the fields of Open Data, the patenting of AI inventions and MLOps are also discussed, as well as the European Union’s new grand vision for AI as reflected in its February 2020 White Paper.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Buyers is a commercial solicitor and partner at Osborne Clarke LLP, an international law firm which specialises in advising high technology clients, or businesses that are transitioning through a process of digitalisation. John manages the UK Commercial team and leads Osborne Clarke’s international Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning group. He is a frequent commentator on the topic of Artificial Intelligence and the law and speaks regularly both in the UK and internationally on the subject.

John’s practice is largely based on transactional IT and outsourcing in the Financial Services and regulated Professional Services sectors. He regularly advises users and suppliers of Artificial Intelligence based systems. Recent work has included advising a global technology business on the legal implications of automated facial recognition in Europe and providing guidance to a major social media network on the discriminatory effects of automated content takedown.

REVIEWS OF THE FIRST EDITION

“…a must-read book for anybody advising on aspects of software code if it is part of a device or product. The author beings his wide knowledge of the topic to bear…”
– Digital Evidence and Electronic Signature Law Review

CONTENTS

Chapter One – An Introduction to Artificially Intelligent Systems
Chapter Two – Causation and Artificial Intelligence
Chapter Three – Big Data and Artificial Intelligence
Chapter Four – Automated Facial Recognition
Chapter Five – Intellectual Property Rights in AI Systems
Chapter Six – Automated Bias and Discrimination
Chapter Seven – AI Crime: Commission and Judgment
Chapter Eight – Market Distorting Effects: AI and Competition Law
Chapter Nine – Sector Specific Considerations
Chapter Ten – Automation and AI Service Provision
Chapter Eleven – Artificial Intelligence and Corporate Law
Chapter Twelve – Political, Regulatory and Industry Responses