Automation, artificial intelligence and legal issues
By Newyorka Musabelliu and Chris Chang – January 2020 It is not surprising that the law cannot keep up with the growth in artificial intelligence. Patent applications have already been filed on behalf of and in the name of a machine called Dabus that used AI to design two products[1]. Nevertheless, progress is being made regarding law reform in this space. In December 2019 the Australian Law Reform Commission released a report for law reform in connection with artificial intelligence over the next five years[2] and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced a public consultation process on artificial intelligence and intellectual property policy[3]. Below are some of the associated legal issues[4]. Table of Contents Key takeaways The implementation of different types of permanent controls, checks and balances on the AI which cannot be overridden is important given the different types of risks. The ALRC report notes recent commentary and states “appropriate design choices are crucial for automated systems to achieve consistency with concepts such as transparency and accountability; predictability and consistency; and equality before the law” and calls for effective regulation of technological developments. There are doubts as to whether mere principle based regulation will suffice and therefore the task of drafting such legislation will be both challenging and interesting. IP Law There are a multitude of issues to consider in view of the current landscape but, in summary, it is important to ensure the retention of personal control over the creative process and provide the input to at least a substantial part of the end result. Otherwise the risk is that you will lose rights in works authored by AI or jointly authored with AI unless reform addresses this. Reform debate primarily focuses on ownership where the work has been created by AI. Who should own the intellectual property rights (1) no-one (2) the AI, or (3) an interested party such as the producer. The latter is in our opinion the preferred option. In any other scenario this would be unsatisfactory to many businesses who have invested in AI and the fruits of the AI’s labour, including adaptations and compilations etc of those works. If left unaddressed, questions as to whether inventions presently created by AI can be registered as patents by persons other than the AI[5], or whether future applications based on such inventions are in fact already part of the prior art base and do not constitute inventive steps may also arise, and so forth. Who should be responsible for infringement by AI? We suggest the principles of agency law should apply. This question also opens the doors to liability for other positive acts of AI and questions concerning torts to the person for example which, given current advances in AI, is a possibility. Admin Law Even when automated systems are deployed carefully and effectively by government agencies, questions remain as to their compatibility with core administrative law principles and the rule of law. In particular, it is not yet clear whether (or how) such systems can be said to act with procedural fairness. The legality of actions and decisions by public bodies is called into question as is transparency and accountability of government decisions (in particular, whether automated decision-making software can provide adequate reasons that would in turn facilitate access to judicial and merits review where appropriate)[6]. The independent scrutiny of automated systems prior to implementation is already envisaged by the ALRC e.g. by way of algorithmic impact assessment[7] and therefore creators of AI are no doubt already focusing upon how to demonstrate compliance such tests if they havnt already done so. Privacy Law Information handled about individuals may not satisfy the definition of personal information under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) if the relevant person is for example allocated a code and is therefore not identifiable. Collection by AI may also occur without knowledge or consent (both of the public and the owner of the AI). Permanent checks and balances are likely to already be in place. Directors’ duties and defences It is important for directors to understand the technology upon which they place any reliance, and any limitations if they intend to rely on the safe harbor provisions contained in s.189 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Discrimination Studies have shown that inadvertent discrimination may occur in the AI’s implementation of its algorithms. Misuse of big data Other issues raised include the propensity for improper use of big data in the financial sector, and consumer law. The WIPO statement of issues goes into greater detail[8]. Discussion BACKGROUND AND STATUS OF AI As the phrase suggests, “artificial intelligence” (AI) is designed with the objective of imitating human intelligence artificially (and as has been proven, exceeding human intelligence in many ways, in the same way traditional computers have served us for so many years). Human intelligence includes accurate perception, analysis, logic / rationale, the ability to make calculated decisions based on objectives and, ultimately, solve problems. It also includes creativity. Machine learning has been available for years (e.g. for the purposes of electronic discovery in litigation). Algorithms are programmed in machines designed to learn both from large amounts of historic data and through their own, “personal”, experience and evolution, to make accurate predictions. Aside from significant advances in the use of artificial intelligence in the legal sector, we note some other examples of developments in recent times: The advanced use of AI as applied to gastrointestinal diagnostics. In particular, AI has been used in the “automated detection of disease and differentiation of pathology subtypes and disease severity[9]”; In October 2011, Takahiro Yamaguchi and So Kanno explored the link between the machine and art. The “Senseless Drawing Bot” is an autonomous device that sits on a skateboard which draws abstract lines using many colors. The robot moves from side to side, riding the wave of today’s modern graffiti. The lines drawn are complex and create abstract modern graffiti and one would have a difficult time arguing that the same work, if originally created by a human,