What Should We Do About Artificial Intelligence in Health Care?

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an important driver of growth and investment in the health care industry. In perhaps the most eye-catching example, industry heavyweights such as IBM are leveraging the promise of AI to market diagnostic systems such as Watson for Oncology that offer personalized treatment advice.

But can machines really perform the services promised by IBM? What legal principles should underpin decisions made by AI systems? This paper examines these questions and posits that assigning legal personhood to AI may provide necessary predictability and stability to an uncertain legal and regulatory landscape.

Keywords: AI Artificial Intelligence, IBM, Watson

JEL Classification: I18, K13, K20, K39, O33