Governing Emerging Technologies Through Soft Law: Lessons for Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is positioned to be a foundational technology in most industrial sectors, societal interactions, as well as in many other technological advantages. AI is rapidly evolving with the promise of bettering our businesses, keeping us safer, and transforming us into a better society. At the same time, we know there will be concerns, some anticipated, and many that will develop alongside the technology itself. Its ubiquitous nature and rapid pace of development make traditional governance structures difficult to impose. However, there are a number of “soft-law” or non-legally binding tools that offer the flexibility needed to foster innovation safely.