[Online winter academy] Artificial intelligence and international law

In February 2021, the Asser Institute will host its third annual winter academy on ‘Artificial intelligence and international law.’ This state-of-the-art winter academy will be hosted in an online format and will take place over six days, split across two weeks: 10-12 February and 17-19 February. The interdisciplinary programme offers you an in-depth and comprehensive overview of AI and international law: from ground notions to complex debates on AI and the rule of law. 

Background

Artificial intelligence (AI) comes with many promises. It has the potential of providing for cognitive abilities going beyond human capacities, which could lead to significant scientific and societal progress. At the same time, the use of technologies that display increasing degrees of autonomy brings in significant ethical, legal, and policy challenges. AI is disruptive to fundamental legal norms and concepts, as well as to systems of international governance.

What?

This winter academy offers you foundational knowledge on key issues at the intersection of theory and practice, and provides a platform for critical debate and engagement on emerging questions. The programme is structured along six themes: Understanding AI, AI ethics, AI and human rights, AI and international security, AI and responsibility and: AI policy and governance. It will address both the technical and legal aspects of AI, so whether you are a lawyer or a programmer, this academy will offer you the skills and knowledge to advance in your professional or academic career. 

For whom?

This winter academy is designed for professionals and academics working on issues related to AI and international law, in particular:

• Policy makers, policy analysts and legal advisers working on innovation and technology in public or private institutions;
• Industry professionals interested in the law and governance of AI;
• Researchers and advanced students (master or PhD) in the fields of international law, political science, philosophy, or computer science.

Key topics

• Introduction to AI
• AI ethics and value-sensitive design
• Algorithmic bias and discrimination
• Public sector algorithms and human rights
• AI and corporate responsibility
• State responsibility in relation to AI
• AI-enabled weapons and international humanitarian law
• Algorithmic political targeting and filter bubbles
• International governance of AI

Programme 

The detailed programme is available here. 

Confirmed speakers:

• Professor Marco Sassòli (University of Geneva)
  
• Professor Hitoshi Nasu (University of Exeter)
• Professor Frederik Zuiderveen Borgesius (Radboud University)
• Professor Natali Helberger (University of Amsterdam)
• Dr Karina Vold (University of Toronto)
• Dr Daragh Murray (University of Essex)
• Dr Lottie Lane (University of Groningen)
• Dr Philip Nickel (Eindhoven University of Technology)
• Dr Sonja Bekker (Utrecht University)
• Dr Judith Moeller (University of Amsterdam)
• Dr Giovanni Sileno (University of Amsterdam)
• Dr Leon Kester (TNO)
• Matthijs Maas (University of Cambridge)
• Dr Marta Bo (Asser Institute; IHEID)
• Dr Sadjad Soltanzadeh (Asser Institute)
• Dr Dimitri Van Den Meerssche (University of Edinburgh; Asser Institute)
• Dr Berenice Boutin (Asser Institute)  

Reviews from the 2020 AI and international law winter academy 

‘The intensive course was a fantastic deep-dive into a wide range of current issues at the intersection of AI and international law... The discussions were rich and fairly sophisticated compared to those I have been a part of at other avenues, probably due to the richness of the diversity of the participants.’

‘I thought the course was excellent. The spread of expertise and the cross-disciplinary approach meant that everyone was able to learn from other people and share their own knowledge, which I think led to a richer experience than it would have been otherwise. I really enjoyed being able to learn from these different perspectives. I also thought the international approach was beneficial both in terms of the lecturers and in terms of the participants’.

‘It was very insightful and I learned a lot from experts in the field and got to meet super interesting fellow winter academy member colleagues’.

Registration & questions 

To register for this winter academy, click here or on the ‘register’ button at the top of the page and fill out the form. Please read the registration terms and conditions carefully.

After successful completion of this winter academy, you will receive a professional certificate from the T.M.C. Asser Instituut.

Please contact educationtraining@asser.nl with any inquiries.