Recent years have seen a rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) autonomous systems. Autonomous AI systems are software-based agents, or robotic devices, that can independently make decisions about their own actions, often without direct human intervention. Recent breakthroughs, such as OpenAI’s o1 reasoning model, Anthropic’s “Computer Use,” or Google’s “Deep Research”, have demonstrated AI systems with unprecedented levels of autonomy. These systems range from software agents that can independently research, plan, reason, and execute complex tasks on the Internet, or physical systems like self-driving vehicles from Waymo now operating in major cities to increasingly sophisticated humanoid robots capable of working in commercial settings.
These developments raise novel and pressing legal and regulatory questions: How should the law address AI-driven decision-making in critical domains? On the software side, AI “agents” can autonomously negotiate contracts, manage financial portfolios, communicate and execute purchases and transactions on the Internet. On the physical side, autonomous robots navigate urban driving or factory environments. What new standards or liabilities emerge when robots or software agents act with increasing independence? This conference will explore the pressing societal and legal challenges introduced by these autonomous systems and chart paths forward for responsible governance and innovation.
Speakers and agenda to be announced soon.