Artificial Intelligence: A Twenty First Century International Regulatory Challenge

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a twenty first century evolution. Certain aspects of AI have been integrated into daily living. AI applications have also been incorporated into the aviation, banking, cyber security, educational, employment, health, and military sectors respectively. However, the unpredictable nature of AI is a cause for concern because ‘In many instances, AI remains under the control of users and designers, but in increasing numbers of applications, the behaviour of a system cannot be predicted by those involved in design and application …. Newly developed machines are able to teach themselves and even collect data’. Consequently, ‘The potential benefits and harms of AI have led to calls for governments to adapt quickly to the changes AI is already delivering and the potentially transformative changes to come. These include calls to pause AI development and for countries … to deliver a step-change in regulation’. ‘In March 2023, more than 1,000 artificial intelligence experts, researchers and backers signed an open letter calling for an immediate pause on the creation of “giant” AIs for at least six months, so the capabilities and dangers of such systems can be properly studied and mitigated’. What are the benefits of AI? What are the risks of AI? Which crimes can be committed via AI? What are the regulatory challenges? What has been the international response? In this article, we will explore whether there is a justification for regulating AI from ethical, legal and law enforcement perspectives. Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Ethics; Regulation; Law enforcement