Safeguarding Companies’ Online Data in the AI Era

The rapidly evolving landscape of advanced technology renders data one of the most valuable commodities today. This is especially true for artificial intelligence (AI), which can advance significantly in capability and complexity by learning from massive data sets used as training data. …

[This article identifies] considerations companies should account for when undertaking efforts to protect their online data based on an analysis of legal protections applicable to companies’ online data against unauthorized use.

Read the full article by Agatha H. Liu and Ariel Seidner.

The AI Update | August 29, 2023

#HelloWorld. In this issue, ChatGPT cannot be the next John Grisham, the secret is out on The New York Times’ frustrations with generative AI, and YouTube looks to a technological fix for voice replicas. Summer may soon be over, but AI issues are not going anywhere. Let’s stay smart together. (Subscribe to the mailing list to receive future issues.)

AI cannot be a copyright author—for now. In one of the most-awaited copyright events of the summer (not Barbie-related), the federal district court in D.C. held that an AI system could not be deemed the author of a synthetically-generated artwork. This was a test case brought by Stephen Thaler, a computer scientist and passionate advocate for treating AI as both copyright author and patent inventor, notwithstanding its silicon- and software-based essence. The D.C. district court, however, held firm to the policy position taken by the U.S. Copyright Office—copyright protects humans alone. In the words of the court: “human authorship is an essential part of a valid copyright claim.” Those who have followed Thaler’s efforts will remember that, about a year ago, the Federal Circuit similarly rejected Thaler’s attempt to list an AI model as an “inventor” on a patent application, holding instead that an inventor must be a “natural person.” Continue reading “The AI Update | August 29, 2023”

AI Software Settlement Highlights Risk in Hiring Decisions

In Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. ITutorGroup, Inc., et al., No. 1:22-CV-2565 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 9, 2023), the EEOC and a tutoring company filed a Joint Settlement Agreement and Consent Decree in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, memorializing a $365,000 settlement for claims involving hiring software that automatically rejected applicants based on their age. This is first EEOC settlement involving artificial intelligence (“AI”) software bias.

Read more on the Class Action Defense Blog.

AI Tools in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act

On July 26, 2023, the EEOC issued a new Guidance entitled “Visual Disabilities in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act” (the “Guidance”).  This document is an excellent resource for employers, and provides insight into how to handle situations that may arise with job applicants and employees that have visual disabilities. Notably, for employers that use algorithms or artificial intelligence (“AI”) as a decision-making tool, the Guidance makes clear that employers have an obligation to make reasonable accommodations for applicants or employees with visual disabilities who request them in connection with these technologies.

Read more on the Class Action Defense Blog.

 

Taking Heed of AI Contracts

Duane Morris partner Neville M. Bilimoria authored the McKnight’s Long-Term Care article, “AI is everywhere! Addressing the legal risks through contracting.”

Mr. Bilimoria writes:

You can’t look in the news or see social media posts each day without hearing about artificial intelligence in healthcare. In fact, the advancements in AI in healthcare are making leaps and bounds, seemingly with each day that goes by.

But nursing homes and assisted living providers need to understand not just the benefits of how AI can improve quality of resident care and improved operations, but also the legal issues surrounding AI in your facility.

Read the full article on the McKnight’s Long-Term Care website.

Webinar: Liability Considerations in Enterprise Use of Generative AI

Duane Morris partner Alex Goranin will be moderating the webinar “Liability Considerations in Enterprise Use of Generative AI” on June 27, hosted by The Copyright Society.

For more information and to register, visit The Copyright Society website.

About the Program

Since ChatGPT burst onto the scene last fall, developers of large language and other foundation models have raced to release new versions; the number of app developers building on top of the models has mushroomed; and companies large and small have considered—and reconsidered—approaches to integrating generative AI tools within their businesses. With these decisions has come a cascade of practical business risks, and copyright and copyright-adjacent issues have taken center stage. After all, if your marketing team’s Midjourney-like AI image generator outputs artwork later accused of infringement, who is ultimately responsible? And how can you mitigate that risk—through contractual indemnity? through guardrails deployed in your training process? through post-hoc content moderation?

Speakers

    • Alex Goranin, Intellectual Property Litigator, Duane Morris LLP
    • Peter Henderson, Stanford University
    • Jess Miers, Advocacy Counsel, Chamber of Progress
    • Alex Rindels, Corporate Counsel, Jasper

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The opinions expressed on this blog are those of the author and are not to be construed as legal advice.

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