In shifting technological and regulatory quicksands, this book offers a toolkit for harnessing AI in the practice of law and for optimizing AI by society as a whole. This is the first comprehensive study of how AI will dramatically affect the law, both as a profession and a regulatory domain, as well as society at large. The urgency for this guide stems from the gap between the transformative forces of AI, on the one hand, and the lagging grasp by key stakeholders of the capabilities, limitations and effects of AI, on the other.
To fill this knowledge gap, the book will equip all stakeholders in the AI discourse, including lawyers, academia, government, civil society and business, with specific tools to withstand the incoming AI wave. To practicing lawyers in most areas of the law, the book will serve as a practice manual of current and foreseeable technical capabilities of AI. For academia, there are specific recommendations that law schools and related academic settings may consider in adapting their role to the exigencies of an AI-powered future. To government and public policymakers, the book presents examples and options for AI governance that policymakers can use in their legislative and outreach efforts. To civil society, it proposes a framework for understanding AI’s ethical, legal, political and socio-economic implications. To business, the book offers a risk assessment matrix for the operationalization of AI.
The book invites everyone - the lawyer, the law academic and student, the citizen, the policymaker, and the businessperson - on a literary voyage into demystifying the AI phenomenon by shedding practical light on its workings and impacts and by offering preparedness for the future.
Audrey Macklin, Director, Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, Professor of Law and Rebecca Cook Chair in Human Rights, University of Toronto - Faculty of Law:
"This book is an invaluable tour d’horizon of AI and law. For those who know more about law than AI, Dobrev defines, explains and illustrates what AI is, what it means for law and legal practice, and what law can do about AI. The book presents complex ideas, and the ethical challenges posed by the use of AI, in a way that is accessible, but never simplistic. This is a terrific book that is a pleasure to read. It should be required reading for lawyers, scholars, policy-makers and students."
H. David Rosenbloom, Director of the International Tax Program at NYU School of Law; Lecturer at Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia Law Schools; Member of the law firm of Caplin & Drysdale):
"Dessislav Dobrev's volume on Artificial Intelligence and the Law is a fascinating and eminently readable guide to this most timely of topics. There is little doubt that artificial intelligence is just beginning to have what will surely be a profound impact on all aspects of the law, and Mr. Dobrev's volume explains clearly how and why that is so."
Jordan Zed, Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, Director General, External and Trade Policy, Department of Innovation Science and Economic Development, Government of Canada:
"This book fills an important gap in the study of AI and the law. Every law student, lawyer and policy maker in the area of emerging technology would benefit greatly from a careful read of this excellent book. The questions with which the author contends could not be more timely, relevant and essential to the responsible and thoughtful navigation of our complex and rapidly evolving digital economy. This book succinctly draws together legal, ethical and policy considerations in a highly accessible and engaging manner."
William Innes (listed and recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada (2020 edition); Lexpert/ROB Special (2020 edition) – Canadas Leading Litigation Lawyers):
"Mr. Dobrev's book is extremely well written, thoughtful and intuitive. The section on the practice of law will be of great interest to practitioners trying to cope with how the mushrooming growth of AI will shape the future of the profession. The section on governance should be of great value to all of those involved in the regulation of AI and its role in the legal profession. The reflections on the future of AI, particularly its impact on legal ethics, are noteworthy. As a polyglot (being fluent in his native Bulgarian, English, Russian and French) with civil and common law multinational experience with the World Bank Group (MIGA) in essentially all corners of the globe, Mr. Dobrev is perfectly placed to explore the terra nova of AI which presents great challenges in adapting to various linguistic and legal regimes. In the words of Samuel Johnson "Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last." Mr. Dobrev's book is sure to whet the reader's curiosity as a primary source on the many facets of AI in its interaction with the law both now and in the future."
Valérie Saintot, Head of Legislation Division, European Central Bank, expert in Digitalization & Tech for Legal Operations:
"Professionals of all walks, citizens, lawmakers, economic agents need to grow faster their literacy of AI. We cannot delegate understanding AI to someone else. AI brings numerous collective challenges and equally unique opportunities for improvements of our lives, ecosystems, economies and societies. We need to grow together our collective muscles around AI to become together Response-Able.
The book of Dessislav Dobrev is very well structured and leads the reader elegantly through multiple relevant dimensions. To focus on the legal profession, lawyers can find in this very well researched book a unique map of the territory to orient themselves in the growing maze around AI. There is no escape to speeding up educating ourselves reading such well-reasoned book if we want to shape the use of AI and ensure its many applications are for the greater good."
