On March 20, AmCham Morning Briefing, co-hosted with Widen Legal, provided a thought-provoking session centered on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in business operations, strategy, and governance. The event delved into the intricate relationship between innovation, regulation, and the evolving legal landscape surrounding AI.
The session kicked off with an insightful keynote introduction by Henri Ratnik from Widen Legal, who offered a concise overview of AI’s current role in both business and the legal framework. Henri effectively set the stage for a dynamic and informative conversation about how businesses must navigate the fine balance between harnessing the power of AI and adhering to evolving regulatory demands.
Following the keynote, a distinguished panel of experts gathered to discuss the theme “AI in Action: Opportunities, Challenges, and Legal Impacts.”
The panel consisted of:
• Christa Torm – AI and Digital Policy Manager for AWS in EMEA
• Kathleen Naglee – Education Futurist and Strategic Consultant for Boards and School Leaders
• Rauno Kinkar – IP/IT Partner, Widen Legal
• Jesper Olsen – Chief Security Officer for EMEA North at Palo Alto Networks
Key Discussion Highlights:
The panel explored a variety of crucial topics, shedding light on the evolving legal and regulatory landscape surrounding AI:
- AI ACT and Compliance: The panel discussed the AI Act and its implications for businesses
- GDPR and Personal Data: With the increasing use of AI in handling vast amounts of personal data, the panel addressed issues related to data transfer, storage limitations, and the ethical concerns surrounding the use of personal data under the GDPR framework.
- Intellectual Property and Copyright Protection: how AI challenges traditional intellectual property (IP) structures, particularly regarding ownership and copyright protection of AI-generated content.
- AI Training and Data Usage: A provocative discussion centered on the use of AI-generated material for training other AI models. The panel explored the ethical and legal implications of utilizing AI-generated data and the risks involved in relying on non-human-generated sources.
- AI in Education: The future of AI in education was another key focus. Should AI be embraced as a facilitator and coach in educational settings, or should its use be curbed? Panelists discussed the potential risks and rewards of integrating AI into educational institutions and explored how it could reshape teaching and learning methodologies.
- Complications of AI Usage in Business: Panelists also discussed the mounting costs of compliance with various AI-related regulations, noting that businesses must balance the costs of adhering to these evolving laws with the potential benefits of using AI in their operations.
- From Misuse to Missed Use: A shift in perspective was discussed, moving from concerns about the misuse of AI to worrying about the missed use—the opportunities and efficiencies that companies might overlook by not fully leveraging AI’s potential.
- EU Regulation and Innovation Support: The need for harmonized AI regulation across Europe was highlighted, with a call for regulations that are transparent and facilitate innovation, rather than stifling it.
- Data Hygiene and Over-Reliance on AI: Finally, panelists addressed the growing concern over the over-reliance on AI systems, stressing the importance of maintaining robust data hygiene practices and ensuring that AI systems are not trusted blindly without proper validation.
Overall, the event provided valuable insights into the complex intersection of AI, law, and business. It was a timely and essential conversation for professionals seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of AI while remaining compliant with global regulations. The dynamic panel, with its diverse perspectives, sparked deep reflection on how businesses can responsibly and effectively integrate AI technologies into their strategies.
Our sincerely thank you goes to our event partner- WIDEN legal for the wonderful collaboration and all speakers, expert panelists and active participants of the event!