Regulating the Synthetic Society: Generative AI, Legal Questions, and Societal Challenges

This open-access book provides an introduction to Generative Artificial Intelligence and its four cutting-edge technologies: humanoid robots, deepfakes, augmented reality, and virtual reality. It predicts that in five years, more than 90% of all digital content will be AI-generated, potentially impacting democracy, the judicial system, the press, and personal relationships. The author explores the positive and negative uses of these technologies, evaluates their impact on the post-truth society, the privatization of the public sphere, and the loss of individual autonomy, and discusses regulatory alternatives to address existing gaps.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This comprehensive open-access book offers an insightful introduction to the realm of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and explores four groundbreaking technologies that it empowers: humanoid robots, deepfakes, augmented reality, and virtual reality. Experts anticipate that within the next five years, a remarkable 90% of all digital content will be either wholly or partially generated by AI. In such a synthetic society, distinguishing between what is real and what is not becomes increasingly challenging. While these technologies are still in their early stages, they possess remarkable capabilities to create content that is nearly indistinguishable from authentic material. The impact of this new reality on democracy, the judicial system, the press, personal relationships, and society as a whole is likely to be unprecedented.

The author delves into the intricate details of each technology, providing a comprehensive understanding of their inner workings. They also map out their positive applications in fields such as education, health, and entertainment, highlighting how they can enhance our lives and improve various aspects of society. However, the author is equally aware of the potential negative uses of these technologies, such as fraud, deception, exploitation, and identity theft. They explore the deeper consequences of these technologies on the post-truth society, the privatization of the public sphere, and the loss of individual autonomy and societal trust.

The book evaluates how the current European legal paradigm applies to these technologies, focusing on key areas such as privacy and data protection, intellectual property, freedom of expression, procedural law, tort law, consumer and competition law, and the regulation of AI. It discusses regulatory alternatives to address existing gaps and highlights the complexities involved in finding solutions. The author acknowledges that there are no easy answers to the challenges posed by these technologies, emphasizing the need for careful consideration and proactive regulation.

In conclusion, this book serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the implications of Generative AI and its transformative impact on our world. It provides a comprehensive exploration of the technologies themselves, their applications, and the legal framework that governs them. By examining the potential benefits and risks of these technologies, the book encourages readers to engage in informed discussions and consider the ethical and societal implications of AI in our rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509974948