The University of Oxford has paired up with UNESCO to launch a free global course titled “AI, Justice, and Rule of Law”. The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) will teach those in legal settings to navigate the ethical, legal, and human rights challenges of AI.
“AI, Justice and Rule of Law” aims to help legal professionals examine the use of AI in courts. In particular, the course provides guidance on practical knowledge and issues surrounding AI in courts and legal systems and has included an AI and Rule of Law Checklist. The course strengthens its students’ understanding of fairness, accountability, and transparency. The programme developed through interdisciplinary cooperation between UNESCO and Oxford has brought together expertise in the form of academics as well as international competency frameworks. The Blavatnik School of Government, Saïd Business School, and the Faculty of Law used the Guidelines for the Use of AI in Courts and Tribunals, to support more informed decision-making in legal and public institutions.
Ignacio Cofone, Professor of Law and Regulation of AI in the Faculty of Law, told Cherwell: “We designed this course so that legal and public-sector professionals can … not just understand how AI systems work technically, but work through the harder questions about when AI affects rights, who is accountable, and what safeguards should be in place.”
With the rapid development of AI, the course has been specifically designed to be updated over time. The University holds the course’s master files meaning that content can be reviewed and refreshed as AI and its surrounding legal debates evolve. The new course comes in the wake of Oxford becoming the first UK university to offer ChatGPT Edu to all its students.
As Philippa Webb, Professor of Public International Law at the Blavatnik School of Government told Cherwell, “We share the most promising practices and pitfalls to avoid through this course.” The course is currently available in English, with French and Spanish versions to launch in June. Further discussions to expand the course into additional languages are taking place by the University.