The NLS Public Lecture Series | Artificial Intelligence and the Limits of Legal Personality

The NLS Public Lecture Series invites you to a talk on ‘Artificial Intelligence and the Limits of Legal Personality’ by Prof. Simon Chesterman. The talk will take place on Thursday, November 18, 2021 from 5.00 PM to 6.00 PM.

About the speaker:

Prof. Simon Chesterman, Dean and Provost’s Chair Professor of the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law and Senior Director of AI Governance at AI Singapore. He is also Editor of the Asian Journal of International Law and Co-President of the Law Schools Global League.

Abstract:

As artificial intelligence (AI) systems become more sophisticated and play a larger role in society, arguments that they should have some form of legal personality gain credence. It has been suggested that this will fill an accountability gap created by the speed, autonomy, and opacity of AI. In addition, a growing body of literature considers the possibility of AI systems owning the intellectual property that they create. The arguments are typically framed in instrumental terms, with comparisons to juridical persons such as corporations. Implicit in those arguments, or explicit in their illustrations and examples, is the idea that as AI systems approach the point of indistinguishability from humans they should be entitled to a status comparable to natural persons. This presentation contends that although most legal systems could create a novel category of legal persons, such arguments are insufficient to show that they should.

Please register in advance for this meeting with the link provided above. You will receive Zoom details once you register.

The full paper is available here.