The project promotes participation from underrepresented jurisdictions in AI governance discussions
The International Bar Association has launched the International Bar Association Artificial Intelligence Institute, a new initiative to advance responsible AI governance through international cooperation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The AI Institute, launched on June 8, was established under the leadership of former IBA president Jaime Carey and current IBA president Claudio Visco. In a media release, the IBA said it will draw on the IBA’s global network of more than 80,000 lawyers and 190 bar associations and law societies to address legal, societal, economic and democratic issues arising from rapidly evolving AI technologies.
The IBA said the AI Institute will adopt an interdisciplinary approach, recognizing that AI-related challenges extend beyond the legal profession. It plans to engage with governments, policymakers, technologists, international organizations, research institutions, civil society groups and industry representatives.
The AI Institute will also contribute legal expertise to existing international and multi-stakeholder AI initiatives. Its objective is to help inform practical and inclusive governance frameworks for AI systems while supporting cross-border dialogue on emerging regulatory and policy issues.
Among the issues identified by the IBA are frontier AI systems, algorithmic accountability, privacy, intellectual property, labour market transformation, access to justice, democratic resilience and cross-border regulatory coordination. The IBA said the AI Institute aims to become a forum for discussion and engagement on these topics.
A central focus of the initiative will be increasing participation from underrepresented jurisdictions in global AI governance discussions. The IBA said the AI Institute will support dialogue and capacity-building efforts intended to reduce governance inequalities between regions and ensure that governance frameworks reflect diverse legal traditions, economic conditions and societal needs.
The AI Institute’s stated objectives include contributing legal expertise to international discussions on AI, supporting the development of future governance frameworks, promoting AI systems consistent with the rule of law and human rights, and assisting the work of international organizations.
In a joint statement, Carey and Visco said the legal profession has an important role in addressing the challenges posed by AI. Still, they noted that effective governance will require cooperation across professions, sectors and countries.
“We think it is particularly important that under-represented countries and communities are active participants in shaping the future of AI governance, rather than simply inheriting frameworks developed elsewhere,” Carey and Visco said. “Inclusive global dialogue and cooperation will be essential to ensuring that the benefits of AI are shared broadly and responsibly, which will be a central aim of the Institute.”
IBA executive director Dr. Mark Ellis described artificial intelligence as one of the defining issues of the current era. “With the establishment of the IBA AI Institute, we aim to work, in collaboration with other entities, towards ensuring AI serves humanity fairly, safely and inclusively,” Ellis said.
The IBA has appointed Dr. Farzana Dudhwala as the AI Institute’s founding director. She brings more than 15 years of experience in AI policy and governance across academia, government and industry. Most recently, she served as global AI policy and governance lead at Meta. She previously worked on AI strategy within the UK government and holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford focused on AI and data-driven technologies and their societal impacts.
