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Artificial Intelligence

Implications for artificial intelligence and machine learning

Artificial Intelligence

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has been a major trend in many sectors for some years now, as companies leverage the many opportunities for optimising processes and boosting productivity. AI systems can be deployed in almost every conceivable field, including by banks and media firms, in recruiting, in the sport and healthcare sector, in the automotive industry and in the energy sector. Alongside the seemingly unlimited opportunities for digital transformation, however, automation of business models and AI-supported decision-making also carry legal risks that companies need to address.

Sustainable AI through data security and data quality

From a simple chatbot to a self-learning system, the benefits of AI to a company should not be detrimental to social interaction. Like with humans, AI must therefore avoid discriminatory decisions that automatically disadvantage certain groups of people, for example. Discriminatory results are often due to an AI system being trained using an inaccurate dataset. Such results can be avoided by incorporating sustainability aspects in corporate strategy, applying human checks and maintaining a high standard of data security and data quality. A sustainable strategy for dealing with AI minimises the risk of legal problems when using it.

Legal regulation of AI

Policymakers and legislators have long been aware of the potential benefits of AI for the common good, as well as the risks posed by unregulated or uncontrolled AI. Examples include the Digital Strategy of the European Union (EU) and the German government's coalition agreement. In addition to the proposal for an international AI convention, the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) will be an important pillar of the Digital Strategy at the EU level. This legislation provides for transparency obligations in the case of some AI systems, e.g. chatbots and deepfakes. In accordance with the AI Act, further strict requirements apply, graded according to the risk posed by the particular AI system to the rights and interests of individuals and of society as a whole. These obligations include the requirements that the AI system has to meet, risk management, data governance (including in relation to training), monitoring, cyber security and transparency. They may also involve bans on companies. Even companies that only use, rather than create, systems will be subject to special requirements to ensure monitoring and provide information about incidents. In addition to the AI Act, the EU Commission has also proposed an AI Liability Directive. This provides for compensation to cover damage or losses caused by AI, aimed at promoting AI systems that minimise harm.

Complex systems raise complex legal issues

Due to the complexity and future importance of the topic, companies would be well advised to address the numerous legal issues that can result from the use of AI as they relate to their own innovative business model so that they avoid legal problems:

  • What statutory regulations apply to AI now and in the future? 
  • Who is liable for AI errors and damage caused by AI? 
  • How can discrimination by AI be avoided and do automated decisions have to be reviewed by humans? 
  • What should be taken into account when using AI for algorithmic management?
  • What employment law aspects should be considered when using AI in a corporate setting?
  • Is there a legal obligation to state that AI is being used?
  • What should be taken into account with regard to the dataset with which the AI is trained? 
  • What are the cyber security and data protection requirements and, in the case of machine learning, what are the requirements with regard to the quality of data? What data protection requirements apply to the processing of personal data by AI systems?
  • What should be taken into account when using AI in the Internet of Things (IoT), in Industry 4.0 and in the Metaverse
  • How does the use of AI affect intellectual property? Who is the inventor or originator of an innovation created using AI? How should prompts be judged according to law?
  • What measures can be taken to assure the protection of trade secrets when AI systems are used? 

How can AI systems operating in the public cloud be prevented from utilising questions that include trade secrets when generating answers for other users (third parties)?
The experts on our interdisciplinary teams have in-depth knowledge both of the technology and of the associated legal issues and they support you around designing and implementing your business models in a legally compliant manner.

You can find publications of our lawyers on this topic here (in German)


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