This course explores the relationship between artificial intelligence, societal implications, and the evolving landscape of legal approaches. Students will be exposed to interdisciplinary perspectives, bridging technical insights on AI with legal theories, regulatory approaches, and emerging challenges in the digital age.

Throughout the semester, students will critically engage with legal issues surrounding AI within the broader context of international debates. Topics of exploration may include AI's influence on culture and knowledge creation; the ethical, societal, and potential harms presented by AI; the use of AI in governance and policymaking; and AI's intersections with privacy, data rights, data ownership, bias, and emerging global AI regulation trends. Though the course touches on advanced social, legal and technological theories and knowledge pertinent to AI, no prior knowledge in this area is assumed or required.

10 x 2 hour seminars in semester 2. 

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The course is assessed by a 3-hour take-home examination

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape global paradigms, the principal aim of the course is to provide students with an overview of the societal and legal impact of AI technology and the regulatory landscape. Through the in-depth exploration of the intricate interplay between artificial intelligence, societal values and legal regulation, this course seeks to illuminate the multifaceted challenges and opportunities presented at this intersection.

Further aims include:

■ Technical & societal understanding: To provide students with insights into the technical nuances of AI and its broader societal implications.

■ Regulatory awareness: Introduce students to relevant regulatory frameworks governing AI, highlighting the challenges and nuances of traditional UK/EU legal systems around rapidly advancing technologies.

■ Analytical skills: Cultivate the ability to evaluate the complexities that AI introduces to legal systems, ethics, privacy, and societal norms from an interdisciplinary perspective.

■ International perspective: Foster an understanding and evaluation of different approaches adopted to regulate AI.

■ Independent learning: Foster a spirit of independent learning, encouraging students to develop the skills to self-navigate through emerging issues, debates, and technological advances at the intersection between AI and law.

By the end of this course students will be able to: 

■ Identify the technical aspects of artificial intelligence technology and the different types of harm which can occur when organisations deploy this technology.

■ Interpret and apply key concepts and theories in legal regulatory areas, such as international human rights, law and social justice.

■ Analyse and compare AI governance strategies across major jurisdictions.

■ Propose reforms to existing legal areas concerning AI that address both individual interests and related policy and societal concerns

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.