AI, law, and ethics

Dates and venues:
Tuesday evening, 10 February, in Visual Lab at ARC
Wednesday afternoon, 11 February, in Innovasalen at ARC

Theme presenters:
Katalin Kelemen and Martin Ebers, Örebro University

Language indicated for each session.

Programme, Tuesday

18:00–19:30
Screening of episode S7.E1 “Common People” from the Netflix series Black Mirror
(56 minutes)

Followed by a discussion on the legal questions raised by the story, with participation from doctoral students and teaching staff at Juridicum, School of Law, Örebro University.

The plot:
When a medical emergency leaves schoolteacher Amanda fighting for her life, her desperate husband Mike signs her up for Rivermind – a high-tech system designed to keep her alive – but at a cost.

Note: The film is unsuitable for children.

In English (both screening and roundtable discussion)

Moderator:
Katalin Kelemen, senior lecturer

Participants:
Mais Quandeel, senior lecturer; Gustaf Dalgren, lecturer; Emmanuel Vargas Penagos, doctoral student; Andrew Leyden, doctoral student.

Programme, Wednesday

13:00–13:25
The private rulemakers: How companies and organisations define the future of AI
Martin Ebers, Örebro University

In English

This talk shows how, in practice, the governance of AI often occurs outside formal legislation, through design choices, platform rules, and technical standards set by private actors. Using examples from generative AI and automated decision-making, the lecture discusses who sets these “hidden rules,” whose interests they serve, and what this means for democracy, accountability, and fairness.

13:30–13:55
From prompt to paragraph: Teaching large language models in legal education
Rigmor Argren, Örebro University

In Swedish

This talk examines how large language models are affecting legal education, an area where linguistic precision is central. With a focus on both law and the broader digital society, the lecture discusses the knowledge and skills students need to develop to work independently and critically, as well as the risks associated with using language models.

14:00–14:55
Interactive session: Prompting exercise
Emmanuel Vargas Penagos and Andrew Leyden, Örebro University

In English

This session explores legal issues related to prompt moderation in generative AI tools, including implications for fundamental rights and technical challenges in implementing legal requirements. We will test three different LLMs to analyse how they respond to selected prompts and discuss the legal relevance of these responses.

15:00–15:25
Large language models: Knowledge production and the question of legality
Mais A.M. Qandeel, Örebro University

In English

This talk highlights how large language models contribute to knowledge production despite the often-uncertain reliability of their outputs. By focusing on extreme use cases, such as the context of armed conflicts, it examines the ethical and legal consequences of using language models in situations where their outputs may have decisive implications for life and death.

15:30–16:00
AI and the role of the lawyer
Eleonor Kristoffersson and Magnus Kristoffersson, Örebro University

In Swedish

This talk will explain how generative AI has rapidly transformed qualified professional roles in the knowledge economy. Using the legal profession as an example, it discusses how tasks, responsibilities, and professional competence are reshaped as AI becomes an integral part of everyday work.