This course examines the landscape of AI governance in an era of unprecedented technological acceleration. Since the deep learning revolution, AI has advanced at a remarkable pace, with frontier AI demonstrating rapidly expanding capabilities in recent years, leading some experts to predict the arrival of artificial general intelligence (AGI) in the coming decade. The development of AI systems will have transformative effects across multiple domains--reshaping the personal, economic, and political lives of citizens, reconfiguring societies, and altering geopolitical dynamics. By focusing on "governance" rather than simply "policy" or "ethics," we examine the full spectrum of mechanisms shaping AI design, deployment, and dissemination: from formal legal regulations enacted by governments, such as the EU AI Act and U.S. Executive Orders, to the professional norms, standards, and responsibilities emerging from technical communities and AI experts. The course takes a dual perspective, analyzing both domestic governance structures within nations and the evolving landscape of global governance arrangements necessary for managing AI's cross-border implications. The course will 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 Students will engage with historical analogues, present-day legal and policy debates, technical governance problems, and emerging oversight models across democratic, authoritarian, and multilateral contexts. Taught by a multi-disciplinary team (a law professor, a political philosopher, and a computer scientist) there will be technical assignments and policy memos and analysis. Technical knowledge or familiarity with AI is not a prerequisite; however, several of the lectures will teach the necessary technical background. Requirements: The course involves a considerable amount of reading plus active classroom discussion. Elements used in grading: Requirements include attendance, class participation, several policy briefs throughout the quarter and a final paper. After the term begins, students accepted into the course can transfer, with consent of the instructor, from section (LAW 01) into section (LAW 02), which meets the R requirement. Cross-listed with Communication (COMM 152A/LAW 252A), Computer Science (CS 283), Global Studies (GLOBAL LAW 245B), International Policy (INTLPOL LAW 245B), and Political Science (POLISCI LAW 145B/LAW 445B).
3 units · Law Honors/Pass/Restrd Cr/Fail
This course examines the landscape of AI governance in an era of unprecedented technological acceleration. Since the deep learning revolution, AI has advanced at a remarkable pace, with frontier AI demonstrating rapidly expanding capabilities in recent years, leading some experts to predict the arrival of artificial general intelligence (AGI) in the coming decade. The development of AI systems will have transformative effects across multiple domains--reshaping the personal, economic, and political lives of citizens, reconfiguring societies, and altering geopolitical dynamics. By focusing on "governance" rather than simply "policy" or "ethics," we examine the full spectrum of mechanisms shaping AI design, deployment, and dissemination: from formal legal regulations enacted by governments, such as the EU AI Act and U.S. Executive Orders, to the professional norms, standards, and responsibilities emerging from technical communities and AI experts. The course takes a dual perspective, analyzing both domestic governance structures within nations and the evolving landscape of global governance arrangements necessary for managing AI's cross-border implications. The course will 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 Students will engage with historical analogues, present-day legal and policy debates, technical governance problems, and emerging oversight models across democratic, authoritarian, and multilateral contexts. Taught by a multi-disciplinary team (a law professor, a political philosopher, and a computer scientist) there will be technical assignments and policy memos and analysis. Technical knowledge or familiarity with AI is not a prerequisite; however, several of the lectures will teach the necessary technical background. Requirements: The course involves a considerable amount of reading plus active classroom discussion. Elements used in grading: Requirements include attendance, class participation, several policy briefs throughout the quarter and a final 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. Cross-listed with Communication (COMM 152A/252A), Computer Science (CS 283), Global Studies (GLOBAL 245B), International Policy (INTLPOL 245B), and Political Science (POLISCI 145B/445B).
Offered in Autumn 2026 at Stanford University.