The regulation of artificial intelligence may present the most pressing policy issue of our time. AI represents more than just a technology or tool; it promises to revolutionize the economy and all social systems. Governments around the world are struggling to keep up with the fast pace of AI development and to adapt existing regulatory regimes to these dramatic changes. This course surveys current and emerging legal, policy and governance challenges related to artificial intelligence. The course will explore regulatory initiatives and proposals from around the world, such as the European AI Act and U.S. Executive Orders, while also examining how existing laws related to privacy, data protection, intellectual property, civil rights, and national security apply to this developing technology. The course will also cover the AI policy debates related to balancing innovation and safety in a variety of contexts, from autonomous vehicles and weapons, to social media and elections. Cross-cutting themes will include: how law and policy affect the way important societal decisions are justified; the balance of power and responsibility between humans and machines in different settings; the incorporation of multiple values into AI decision-making frameworks; the interplay of norms and formal law; technical complexities that may arise as society scales deployment of AI systems; AI's implications for transnational law and governance and geopolitics; and similarities and differences to other domains of human activity raising regulatory trade-offs and affected by technological change. Note: The course is designed both for students who want a survey of the field and lack any technical knowledge, as well as students who are AI experts but wish to learn more about the relevant policy questions and law. Technical knowledge or familiarity with AI is not a prerequisite. Requirements: The course involves a considerable amount of reading plus active classroom discussion. Elements used in grading: Requirements include attendance, class participation and a research paper. After the term begins, students accepted into the course can transfer, with consent of the instructor, from section (COMM 01) into section (COMM 02), which meets the R requirement. Research Paper of roughly COMM 25 pages.
3 units · Letter (ABCD/NP)
The regulation of artificial intelligence may present the most pressing policy issue of our time. AI represents more than just a technology or tool; it promises to revolutionize the economy and all social systems. Governments around the world are struggling to keep up with the fast pace of AI development and to adapt existing regulatory regimes to these dramatic changes. This course surveys current and emerging legal, policy and governance challenges related to artificial intelligence. The course will explore regulatory initiatives and proposals from around the world, such as the European AI Act and U.S. Executive Orders, while also examining how existing laws related to privacy, data protection, intellectual property, civil rights, and national security apply to this developing technology. The course will also cover the AI policy debates related to balancing innovation and safety in a variety of contexts, from autonomous vehicles and weapons, to social media and elections. Cross-cutting themes will include: how law and policy affect the way important societal decisions are justified; the balance of power and responsibility between humans and machines in different settings; the incorporation of multiple values into AI decision-making frameworks; the interplay of norms and formal law; technical complexities that may arise as society scales deployment of AI systems; AI's implications for transnational law and governance and geopolitics; and similarities and differences to other domains of human activity raising regulatory trade-offs and affected by technological change. Note: The course is designed both for students who want a survey of the field and lack any technical knowledge, as well as students who are AI experts but wish to learn more about the relevant policy questions and law. Technical knowledge or familiarity with AI is not a prerequisite. Requirements: The course involves a considerable amount of reading plus active classroom discussion. Elements used in grading: Requirements include attendance, class participation and a research paper. After the term begins, students accepted into the course can transfer, with consent of the instructor, from section (01) into section (02), which meets the R requirement. Research Paper of roughly 25 pages.
Offered in Autumn 2026 at Stanford University.