MSU Law Spotlights Artificial Intelligence, Law, and Society
3rd Annual Dean’s Speaker Series Draws Tech Expertise of Legal Scholars
MSU College of Law hosts the 3rd annual Dean’s Speaker Series, an in-depth examination of timely global issues from a legal perspective. Bringing a unique viewpoint about the intersection of law, society, and technological innovations, like artificial intelligence (AI), are four world-renowned experts in the fields of law and technology.
Launching this year’s speaker series is Jeremiah Smith, Jr., Professor of Law at Harvard Law School Ruth L. Okediji. MSU Law Dean Linda Sheryl Greene will lead a discussion with Professor Okediji on The Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence: The Who, The What, and The Why--And Does it Matter? on October 25 at 12:15 pm. Register for the event, to be held in the Castle Board Room at the College of Law or accessible via livestream.
Widely recognized for her expertise in international intellectual property law, Professor Okediji’s lengthy list of career accomplishments includes her recent appointment to the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Task Force on Law and Artificial Intelligence. A September 4 news release states that the Task Force was formed, “to study the effects of the innovation on law practice and the ethical implications for lawyers.” The ABA website lists the six key focus areas of the Task Force: “AI and the Profession, AI Risk Management, AI and Access to Justice, AI Governance, AI Challenges – Generative AI, and AI and Legal Education.”
Another career highlight is Professor Okediji’s position as Co-Director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. The mission of the Berkman Klein Center, according to the website, “is to explore and understand cyberspace; to study its development, dynamics, norms, and standards; and to assess the need or lack thereof for laws and sanctions.”
In her role as Center Co-Director, Professor Okediji was named to an advisory board of the newly launched “Initiative on Artificial Intelligence and the Law (IAIL).” The announcement of the IAIL stated that the focus of this initiative is “on new challenges and opportunities for the law created by the rise of artificial intelligence, from its potential enhancements to speed of legal practice and its aid to effectiveness for enforcement and adjudication, to broader societal issues such as consumer protection; investor protection; false advertising; privacy; misinformation; and discrimination and civil rights.”
The Artificial Intelligence dialogue continues on November 3 with Eugenio Garcia, Tech Diplomat and Deputy Consul General of Brazil in San Francisco. The Head of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Garcia is an expert on AI governance and U.N. affairs. In 2024, the Dean’s Speaker Series will feature Cary Coglianese, Edward B. Shils Professor of Law and Professor of Political Science and Director, Penn Program on Regulation, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, on March 18. Peter Railton, Gregory S. Kavka Distinguished University Professor, John Stephenson Perrin Professor, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor in the Department of Philosophy at The University of Michigan will conclude the 3rd annual Dean’s Speaker Series on April 12. Learn more on the College of Law website.