SAFEGUARDING HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: THE LEGAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Artificial intelligence is everywhere today. Its development, deployment and use is growing rapidly, not only contributing to the global economy but also raising some legal and human rights issues. The paper argues that, while some artificial intelligent robots such as autonomous vehicles are already available, their intelligence, through constant advancement in technology, will skyrocket in the near future. This, in line with scientific prediction, might eventually reach and even surpass human intelligence. The era of artificial intelligence is enabling symbiotic relationship between humans and artificial agents like robots and will ultimately lead to a civilizational change fomenting legal questions on citizenship, consciousness, rights and legal entity of these agents. This work concludes that as artificial intelligence continues to increase as part of our daily lives, its propensity to interfere with human rights gets more severe. The paper recommends proactive action in adopting necessary safeguards through policy initiation, political and legal frameworks to regulate the development, use and application of artificial intelligence in ways to guarantee continued protection of human rights in artificial intelligence-driven society.