Course Information
To avoid the potential adverse consequences AI, robots, and machines may have for society, we need to ensure that the future of AI is for, by, and of the people. This course will address and critically assess how the law regulates human-machine interactions. We do so by particularly looking at how society is automated. We begin the course by providing concrete examples of how we interact with machines. We also see how society is automated, including healthcare, farming, sex, and industrial environments. After setting the scene, we explore why societies around the globe see in technology the promise to increase productivity and resource efficiency and an excellent tool to restrain expenditure, although certain domains may not respond equally to the same parameters.
During the course, we will focus on the benefits but also the challenges revolving around the deployment of AI, robots, drones, and machines, including problems concerning transparency and explanation; potential discrimination scenarios and exacerbation of existing biases; the construction of responsibility in highly automated environments; and the blurring of well-established concepts such as safety, in the context of machines, AI ,and interconnected products. We will explore solutions, learn how Europe aims to regulate these new interactions and assess the risk posed by these technologies. We close the course reflecting on the long-term consequences of human-machine interactions, the added value AI and robots bring to society, and how the law should balance innovation and user rights protection in an increasingly automated society
Course objectives
The course Law and Human-Machine Interaction has four main objectives:
- Students learn about different emerging AI and robot technologies, applications, and benefits.
- Students can identify, understand, and explain the main challenges of human-machine interactions from legal and regulatory perspectives.
- Students can place emerging AI and robot technologies in context and discuss how Europe currently regulates these technologies.
- Students can think critically about the deployment of AI in society from a legal viewpoint.
Achievement levels
Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the ability to weigh and evaluate the development of specific machines, robots, and AI applications, see where potential regulatory challenges might arise in their use or deployment, and learn methodologies to advise on designing AI technologies in a way that mitigates such issues. In particular:
Understand the basic architecture and operation of robots, machines, and AI and the directions in which it will develop soon.
Identify and recognize the potential benefits and drawbacks of deploying machines in society, including medical robots, industrial machines, self-driving cars, and drones.
Learn and understand the fundamental regulatory issues concerning the deployment of machines and the relevance of design choices in their architecture.
Understand the complexity of the regulatory and policy landscape to address the legal and regulatory issues arising from human-machine interaction.
Learn practical methodologies to evaluate and mitigate the potential risks of implementing machines in different contexts.
Mode of instruction
Interactive lectures, role-play seminars, and student-led discussions.
Course Requirement
Master Degree
Timetable
The timetable of this course will be available for students in MyTimetable
Brightspace
More information on this course is offered in Brightspace
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory as specified in Article 5.1 of the Course and Examination Regulations of the Master of Laws Advanced Studies Programmes
Examination Method
● Group work (35 %) (aligns with O1-O4) ● Final exam (65%) (aligns with O1-O4)
The assignment is obligatory. A (rounded) final grade of 6.0, with no assessment below 5.5 is needed in order to pass the course. Only the final (online) exam can be retaken: the grade for the assignment remains valid for the retake. The grades for the group work and the final exam are no longer valid once the academic year has ended.
Required reading list
See Brightspace
Contact information
Programme Coordinator
Ms Patricia Garcia Fernandez
Telephone number: 0031- 71 527 4228
E-mail: lawanddigitaltechnologies@law.leidenuniv.nl
Course Coordinator
Dr Eduard Fosch Villaronga, E.
e.fosch.villaronga@law.leidenuniv.nl
“Disclaimer:
Should there be any future extenuating circumstances which may impinge our teaching and assessment, these could necessitate modification of the course descriptions after 1 September. This will only happen in the event of strict necessity and the interests of the students will be taken into account. Should there be a need for any change during the course, this will be informed to all students on a timely basis. Modifications after 1 September 2024 may only be done with the approval and consent of the Faculty Board and Programme Director.