Tort Law as a Tool for Mitigating Catastrophic AI Risk

Professor Gabriel Weil discusses the role that tort law can play in compelling AI companies to internalize the risks generated by training and deploying advanced AI systems. He outlines a liability framework based on strict liability, liability insurance requirements that scale with potentially dangerous model capabilities, and punitive damages designed to address uninsurable risks. The talk also addresses the doctrinal and normative case for strict liability and for liability as the central pillar of AI governance.

Part of the AI Governance Speaker Series co-sponsored by AISST and the HLS AI Law Association (AIA).

Speaker

Gabriel Weil is an Associate Professor at Touro University Law Center and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Institute for Law & AI. He also serves on the board of Principles of Intelligence. His research focuses on the role of liability in mitigating catastrophic AI risk, and he regularly consults with legislators and other policymakers on AI policy matters. Before joining the Touro faculty, Professor Weil held several positions focused on climate change policy, including work for the Climate Leadership Council and the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Professor Weil holds a J.D., cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, an LL.M. in environmental law, summa cum laude, from Pace University Elizabeth Haub School of Law, and a B.A. in political science, physics, and integrated science from Northwestern University.