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ARTICLE · 25 JUNE 2018

Can Artificial Intelligence Be Given Legal Rights And Duties?

Nishith Desai Associates
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) has ceased to be that fantastic big idea of the future. AI is now more science and less fiction, with computers and robots replacing humans.

IndiaTechnology
Huzefa Tavawalla
Huzefa Tavawalla
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This article was originally published in the 17th June 2018 edition of Business Standard

No law currently in force recognises Artificial Intelligence as a legal person

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has ceased to be that fantastic big idea of the future. AI is now more science and less fiction, with computers and robots replacing humans.

AI, simply put, is the capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behaviour. With the advent of new technologies, the permeation of AI in our day-to-day lives has become more pronounced.

However, a question that has still not been answered is: How do we address the possibility of an AI causing harm or damage in some form to human society? The more pertinent question is who do we hold responsible for such harm. To comprehend our inability to answer this question, one needs to understand the fallibility of our legal system in being outdated and incapable of dealing with AI.

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