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Artificial Intelligence and Legal Liability

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Research and Development in Intelligent Systems XXXIII (SGAI 2016)

Abstract

A recent issue of a popular computing journal asked which laws would apply if a self-driving car killed a pedestrian. This paper considers the question of legal liability for artificially intelligent computer systems. It discusses whether criminal liability could ever apply; to whom it might apply; and, under civil law, whether an AI program is a product that is subject to product design legislation or a service to which the tort of negligence applies. The issue of sales warranties is also considered. A discussion of some of the practical limitations that AI systems are subject to is also included.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    After this paper was submitted for publication, the first fatality involving a self-driving car was reported from Florida. A white sided trailer had driven across the car’s path; it was a bright sunny day and the car’s radars failed to distinguish the trailer against the bright sky. The driver was sitting in the driver’s seat and was therefore theoretically able to take avoiding action, but was allegedly watching a DVD at the time. Liability has not yet been legally established.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Brighton, Brighton, BN2 4JG, UK

    J. K. C. Kingston

Authors
  1. J. K. C. Kingston
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Correspondence to J. K. C. Kingston .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computing, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom

    Max Bramer

  2. School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brighton, Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom

    Miltos Petridis

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Kingston, J.K.C. (2016). Artificial Intelligence and Legal Liability. In: Bramer, M., Petridis, M. (eds) Research and Development in Intelligent Systems XXXIII. SGAI 2016. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47175-4_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47175-4_20

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47174-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-47175-4

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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