AI Law and Governance in a Global Context

The recently adopted Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) of the European Union (EU) claims to implement a risk-based approach to avoid over-regulation. This talk will argue that risk-based regulation is indeed the right approach to governing AI. At the same time, it will demonstrate that, contrary to the claims of the European Commission and the co-legislators, key provisions of the AI Act diverge from a genuinely risk-based approach. Against this backdrop, the presentation will explore what lessons the AI Act offers for lawmakers worldwide as they develop their own approaches to AI regulation.

Martin Ebers is the President of the Robotics & AI Law Society, Germany, Professor of IT Law at the University of Tartu, Estonia and permanent fellow at Humboldt University in Berlin. He has presented at 100+ international conferences and published 24 books and 120+ articles on law and technology. He is a member of several global research networks.

Five out of six adults in the UK hold at least one insurance product. Similarly, over 80% of Australians have motor, private health, or home insurance. Inevitably, insurers use AI throughout the lifecycle of their products; their unique selling point is providing a personalised customer experience through AI. Considering the types of insurance products mainly held by consumers and the opaque nature of how AI operates raises questions about the accuracy of personalised’ services that insurers claim to provide. This talk will discuss various ways insurers deploy AI in their consumer-facing day-to-day business activities and whether consumers are left in more vulnerable positions as a result.

Ozlem Gurses is a professor of law at King's College London. She specialises in insurance and reinsurance law. Ozlem chairs the British Insurance Law Association Committee and the Reinsurance Working Party of the International Insurance Law Association. She is a visiting professor at UNSW in July 2025.

How can artificial intelligence (AI) draw from the principles embedded in corporate law, and in what ways can AI enhance the structures and practices of corporate governance? These are two fundamental questions that need to be addressed to harness the full potential of technology for the benefit of society more generally. Corporate law can guide the ethical design and operational integrity of AI systems, ensuring accountability and efficiency. Conversely, AI holds transformative potential for corporations by processing large data sets and promoting greater transparency. This exploration highlights the symbiotic relationship between AI and corporate law, emphasizing how each can learn from and contribute to the other.

Dr Peter Underwood is a Senior Lecturer at Auckland Law School. He holds a PhD from the University of Exeter, an LL.M from the University of Law, Bristol, and an LL.B from Nottingham Law School. His research focuses on corporate law, governance, and the role of AI in corporate frameworks