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31 January 2025
Issue: 8102 / Categories: Legal News , Artificial intelligence , Technology , Regulatory , Profession
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NLJ this week: Do we really need legislation on AI?

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Artificial intelligence (AI) technology may be developing fast but—contrary to popular opinion—the ’panicked rush to legislation’ to regulate it is not necessary, writes Ian McDougall, president of the LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation & adjunct professor, IE University Law School, in this week’s NLJ.

McDougall questions the popular belief that AI is in urgent need of more legislation. In this very readable article, he explains why AI may be ‘a fantastic, epoch-making, fourth-Industrial Revolution-making, complicated computer program’ but the bulk of issues it creates are already covered by existing legislation.

Moreover, as he demonstrates, AI is extremely difficult to define. He writes that ‘the real philosophical problem with all of these legislative attempts is that they are trying to regulate for either something that already exists and is covered by existing law, or something that does not exist and may never exist: truly self-aware AI’. 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Anthony Collins—20 promotions

Anthony Collins—20 promotions

20 promotions mark major people investment at national law firm, Anthony Collins

Sidley—Elaine Whiteford

Sidley—Elaine Whiteford

Sidley adds competition litigator Elaine Whiteford in London

Charles Russell Speechlys—Claudina D’Costa

Charles Russell Speechlys—Claudina D’Costa

Charles Russell Speechlys welcomes Claudina D’Costa as Director of Client Development Marketing

NEWS
The 25th Pro Bono Week begins today until 6 November, with events hosted by law firms, chambers, law schools and charities across the UK
Pro bono is celebrating a silver anniversary, with initiatives putting businesses and students at the heart of access to justice
Choosing the wrong expert can cost a clinical negligence claimant more than their case
Judges risk weakening their own independence by staying silent over government reforms, a leading public lawyer argues
A discount on damages does not automatically mean an equivalent haircut for legal costs in military deafness claims
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