events

Byron White Center, Silicon Flatirons and the Daniels Fund Convene Explore Bias and the Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence

Anonymous — Thu, 02 May 2024 14:47:04 +0000

Byron White Center, Silicon Flatirons and the Daniels Fund Convene Explore Bias and the Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/02/2024 - 08:47

Matthew Engebretsen & Tori Matson

Colorado Law’s powerhouse organizations—the Byron White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law, Silicon Flatirons, and the Daniels Fund—brought together legal scholars, lawyers, entrepreneurs and scientists to examine the ethical challenges posed by the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into various aspects of society. Against the backdrop of technological advancement, the event provided a platform for rigorous discussion and introspection about the legal and ethical implications of AI’s integration into areas as varied as employment, elections , climate change mitigation and space exploration.

Moses Lasky Professor of Law and Director of the White Center, Suzette Malveaux, set the stage for this interdisciplinary exploration of AI’s multi-faceted dimensions and growing impact on the U.S. legal landscape. The April 18^thCLE lunch talk kicked off the larger AI and the Consitution Rothgerber Conference, held the next day. In a packed house, the speakers took on the important topic of critically evaluating the inherent biases and vulnerabilities of AI.

Dr. Newton Campbell, Director of Space Programs at Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE), delivered a thought-provoking address highlighting the nuanced ways in which AI systems are susceptible to bias. Campbell offered the concept of AI as a "useful idiot"—a tool capable of remarkable utility, yet vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation. By meticulously examininginjection, infection, evasion, poisoning, and extraction, Campbell underscored the urgent necessity for a deeper understanding of bias within AI systems, especially in cybersecurity.

Building upon Campbell's insights, George Washington Law Professor Spencer Overton, a distinguished scholar and advocate for technological equity, emphasized the broader societal implications of AI bias. Beyond conventional concerns surrounding risk assessment and hiring practices, Overton emphasized the systemic challenges posed by AI in the context of democracy and social cohesion. Drawing attention to the limitations of data scraping and the linguistic biases inherent in AI models, Overton challenged attendees to confront the underlying structural inequities perpetuated by these technologies.

Pepperdine Caruso School of Law Professor, Chris Chambers Goodman, expounded upon the ethical obligations incumbent upon legal practitioners when navigating the complex terrain of AI integration. Goodman highlighted the intersection between AI and legal ethics, citing the American Bar Association's model rule against discrimination as a guiding principle for addressing discriminatory conduct related to AI implementation. Goodman outlined six key areas of bias in machine learning, urging legal professionals to proactively engage with emerging technologies to ensure ethical compliance and competence.

With standing room only and more questions than time, the speakers engaged in a lively Q&A session. Campbell, Overton, and Goodman offered their perspectives on possible solutions to mitigate AI’s biased results in hiring and admission practices. For example, Alison Noon McMahon ‘24 asked about the preemptive and reactionary ethical and legal actions employers should take to address AI bias. Overton called for employers to continue to educate themselves and to increase their transparency so that to they can begin constructing AI designs that accurately reflect our society’s pluralist aspirations. Goodman urged for greater collaboration among employers as a means of diversifying their baseline screening models generated by AI. Campbel drew attention to the complexities of determining how retroactive liability gets assigned when employers administer biased hiring technology.

McMahon thought the panel was “spectacular.” She left appreciating the opportunity for urgent legal work “to protect the public from the technology’s downfalls, but also to protect people from themselves and each other” as they familiarize themselves with these unprecedented tools.

As many are inclined to to advance popular AI technologies, Malveaux, Overton, Goodman, and Campbell provided a thoughtful approach for students and legal, tech, and business professionals to proceed with caution. Watch a full recording of the event here, and view more photos in our flickr gallery.

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The 32nd Annual Rothgerber Conference on AI and The Constitution Makes History

Anonymous — Thu, 02 May 2024 13:55:42 +0000

The 32nd Annual Rothgerber Conference on AI and The Constitution Makes History Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/02/2024 - 07:55

Reya Roussel & Michaela Calhoun

On April 19, the Byron White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law and the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Policy and Entrepreneurship hosted the 32nd Annual Rothgerber Conference on AI and the Constitution. This year’s conference was one of the first of its kind to focus on prevalent issues at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and the Constitution. Interdisciplinary scholars, scientists, lawyers and students from around the world gathered at the University of Colorado Law School in Boulder to discuss recent AI developments and the impact on the right to privacy, free speech under the First Amendment, and judicial interpretation.

Byron White Center Director and Law Professor, Suzette Malveaux, opened the conference, noting the timely and imperative nature of the topic. Given the power of AI and the recent diminishment of fundamental rights under the Constitution, she emphasized the importance of getting ahead of the curve by bringing together experts to grapple with cutting edge issues at the intersection of tech and constitutional law.

The conference started off strong with Professor of Law and Silicon Flatrions Artificial Intelligence Initiative Director, Harry Surden, delivering the keynote address on the development and more recent explosion of generative Artificial Intelligence. Professor Surden shared recent updates and key limitations of generative AI, while also demonstrating how Chat GPT4 can empower and be used responsibly in the law. Following the keynote, Colorado Law Review Executive Editor, Natalie Tiggleman, introduced the AI and Privacy Panel, moderated by Professor Malveaux. Law Professors Paul Ohm (Georgetown), Christine Goodman (Pepperdine Caruso), Spencer Overton (George Washington), and Scott Skinner-Thompson (University of Colorado) held a lively and interactive discussion about the various ways privacy interests are implicated, in areas such as hiring practices, voting access, and data security.

Professor Surden moderated the second panel discussion, which explored how AI can be used in judicial interpretation of the Constitution and other legal documents. Panelists, Dr. Megan Ma (Stanford) and Law Professors Andrew Coan (Arizona), Vivek Krishnamurthy (University of Colorado), and Yonathan Arbel (Alabama), shared how AI has immense potential to challenge interpretive approaches to constitutional law, while still being approachable and beneficial for practical uses, such as increasing attorney productivity which benefits clients. The final panel focused on AI speech and the First Amendment. Professor Blake Reid, Director of the Telecom and Platforms Initiative at Silicon Flatirons, moderated this fascinating discussion with Dr. Newton Campbell (AROSE), Law Professor Helen Norton (University of Colorado), Law Professor April Dawson (NC Central), and Business Professor Eric Alston (University of Colorado). This panel considered the thorny question of whether AI speech—potentially equal to or superior to human speech—is protected under the First Amendment.

Devin Schultze ‘25, Editor in Chief of the Colorado Law Review, expressed her excitement about the conference: “It was really amazing to witness conversations between lawyers and non-lawyers regarding their thoughts on AI and how it impacts individual rights. That was such a cool component to have two separate disciplines come together and hear the discourse that AI and the Constitution creates.”

Many of the remarkable speakers featured at the Rothgerber Conference on AI and the Constitution will be publishing their scholarship in an upcoming special Symposium issue of the Colorado Law Review. Watch the full conference here, and view more photos in our flickr gallery.

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Mini Law School kicks off its 14th season, featuring lectures on the 2024 Election

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 19:00:47 +0000

Mini Law School kicks off its 14th season, featuring lectures on the 2024 Election Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 04/25/2024 - 13:00

Emily Battaglia

Registration for the fall 2024 session of Mini Law school is now open! Each semester, this series provides an excellent lifelong-learning opportunity, and the upcoming edition is no exception. This fall’s curriculum will focus on how the 2024 election will change areas of the law, from immigration to healthcare.

The seven-week series kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 11 with Professor Deep Gulasekaram's discussion of Immigration's Influence on Elections. Each week, a Colorado Law professor will present on a different topic, including:

The Election and Climate Policy (Professor Nadav Orian Peer)
The Future of Healthcare (Professor Laura Dolbow)
Reproductive Rights (Professor Jennifer Hendricks)
Artificial Intelligence (Professor Harry Surden)
and more!

“This fall’s session will help participants understand the implications of the election on a wide variety of areas of law, from immigration and climate change to healthcare and reproductive rights,” said Matt Cushing, Director of Executive and Community Learning Programs. “Our faculty speakers will help participants anticipate where the law will develop after the election, and that in turn should help our participants make more informed decisions in the voting booth.”

Participants can attend lectures in person in Boulder, Colorado, watch a livestream of the lectures on Wednesday nights, or watch a recording of the lecture on-demand.

As an additional benefit, all participants in Mini Law School who apply to the University of Colorado Law School during the 2024-2025 application cycle will have their law school application fees waived.

“Mini law school is an opportunity for nonlawyers to learn from our law professors’ expertise,” said Cushing. “It is a great avenue for those who are curious about law school to learn more.”

There are no required readings, tests, or homework assignments - just a great way to better understand some of the most critical aspects of the legal system! Learn more about mini law school by visiting our website.

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Earth Day 2024: Highlighting The GWC and Water Rights

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 19:21:54 +0000

Earth Day 2024: Highlighting The GWC and Water Rights Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/22/2024 - 13:21

Emily Battaglia

For more than half a century, environmental and natural resources law has been a distinguishing strength of the University of Colorado Law School. Our commitment to teaching and research in these areas complements the school’s physical location in the Rocky Mountain West—a region defined by its vast natural resources, public lands and parks, and many American Indian reservations. Ranked seventh in the nation, Colorado Law’s Environmental, Energy, and Natural Resources program is one of the strongest and deepest of its kind.

This is due in part to The Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment (GWC). The GWC endeavors to serve the people of the American West, the nation, and the world through creative, interdisciplinary research; bold, inclusive teaching; and innovative problem-solving to further true sustainability for our use of the lands, waters, and environment. Their mission is driven by a broader agenda and aspirations for deeper influence in law, policy, and practice. The GWC has developed a substantial body of work, including pioneering research, articles, books, conferences, workshops, and public lectures.

This Earth Day, we are thrilled to highlight the GWC’s work around water rights and policy – one of many buckets of work the center touches upon. This topic has been at the forefront of environmental law conversations for many decades. Read on to learn more about how The GWC is working to address and raise awareness around the real-world challenges of water law and policy.

Water Law Fellows Program

The GWC employs two outstanding early career attorneys to serve as GWC Water Law Fellows. Fellows work on the most pressing water law reform issues of the day under the guidance of the GWC and in partnership with leaders from the non-profit, government, and private sectors. The 2023-2025 fellows are Frannie Monasterio and Andrew Teegarden.

“I’ve heard many times during my experience that water is life, water is sacred, water is a human right,” said Monasterio, “These all resonate with me much more deeply than when I started. I had no idea that communities in the U.S. experience water insecurity. I’ve become more grateful that I have safe, reliable access to water, and I enjoy that I get to spend my time researching how to make water safe, reliable, and accessible.”

The overarching objective of the program is to create a matchless educational and mentoring experience that prepares the Fellows to become leaders in the field. During the two-year program, the Fellows actively engage in water law reform in the public interest sector, and hone their leadership, communication, advocacy, and research skills. The Fellows work with GWC faculty and staff and with partner organizations on a wide array of emerging issues. This work is done at every level — federal, state, tribal, county, city, and international — and could include developing proposed legislation and regulations, policy implementation, and filing amicus briefs.

“One of the things I enjoy most about the Water Law Fellows program has been the ability to work with the Acequia Assistance Project as a supervising attorney,” said Teegarden. “My group in particular is focused on helping Acequia members fill out applications for USDA's RCPP funding program which provides agricultural operators money to help upgrade their water infrastructure.”

Additionally, the Fellows have full access to the extraordinary resources and institutional support of the Law School. To encourage multi-disciplinary solutions, the Fellows will be able to draw on expertise in departments across the University and nearby national laboratories. Under the guidance of the GWC, Fellows also work with experts in NGOs, government, and the private sector.

Acequia Assistance Program

The Acequia Assistance Project is a joint effort by the Getches-Wilkinson Center, Colorado Open Lands, and the Sangre de Cristo Acequia Association to provide low or no-cost legal assistance and educational materials to Colorado’s acequia communities. The project represents dozens of community members every year and has helped to protect the traditional and sustainable farming practices of acequia communities.

Acequia is an Arabic word that means "water bearer." An acequia is a physical irrigation system – a ditch — but the term "acequia" in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado also describes a philosophy about water and community: that water is so essential to life that it is a communal resource, one which must be shared. This philosophy shapes the intersection of the human and natural environments in the Southern Colorado watersheds in which acequias are found and has created a resilient natural and cultural system. Acequias are found along the southernmost part of Colorado – including four of the state’s poorest counties: Costilla, Conejos, Huerfano, and Las Animas.

While acequias are legally treated as any other water right within the prior appropriation system in Colorado, their governance system makes them unique. All irrigators along an Acequia work together to ensure each landowner's water needs are met. For example, in times of water scarcity, ditches cooperate to ensure an equitable distribution of water, or when that is not physically possible, a sharing of fields. As we look to the future, acequias will offer an interesting model of alternative water administration and use. However, for acequias to remain viable, the acequia community must first address some key challenges. For generations, acequias have operated informally – with many remaining unincorporated and without bylaws.

"This is a vibrant community that's knows the value of their way of life and has been willing to fight against long odds to maintain it," said Gregor MacGregor, Director of the Acequia Assistance Project. "They are a great example to look to for inspiration!"

2024 GWC Conference on the Colorado River

The Getches-Wilkinson Center and Water & Tribes Initiative will be co-convening the 2024 Conference on the Colorado River titled “Next Chapters on the Colorado River:
Short-Term Coping, Post-2026 Operations, and Beyond” on Thurs., June 6 and Fri, June 7 at the Wolf Law Building.

“The rules that control how Colorado River water is delivered to almost 40 million users are expiring at the end of 2026, which is a tremendous source of uncertainty for the US, Mexico, the seven basin states, 30 tribal nations, and many stakeholder groups,” said Doug Kenney, Western Water Policy Program Director at the GWC. “An Environmental Impact Statement process is underway to develop new rules to ensure continued deliveries while maintaining adequate storage levels in Lakes Powell and Mead. It's a very difficult, and very politically charged, process, especially given the growing impacts of climate change in the region, and the looming federal elections that may throw an additional wrench into an already complicated process.”

“While it's true that the recent news on the Colorado River has all been pretty bleak as reservoir levels have dropped and interstate tensions have risen, the reality is that many people are working hard to find solutions,” Kenney shared. “Our conference brings together all the key policy-makers and stakeholder groups to discuss those efforts and to explore new opportunities. There's a lot of good things being accomplished. That is a hopeful message.”

We hope you join us for what will be sure to be an engaging two-day conference bringing together thought leaders from across the Colorado Basin. Register today.

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32nd Annual Rothgerber Conference to be held this Friday at Colorado Law

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 21:41:35 +0000

32nd Annual Rothgerber Conference to be held this Friday at Colorado Law Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/15/2024 - 15:41

On April 19, Silicon Flatirons and the Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law are proud to be partnering together for their joint conference “AI and the Constitution," held in University of Colorado Law School’s Wittemyer Courtroom. The conference merges the Silicon Flatirons annual Artificial Intelligence Conference with the White Center’s annual Ira C. Rothgerber Jr. Conference on Constitutional Law. The event will examine emerging Constitutional issues implicated by the rapid advances in artificial intelligence.

“It’s been a real joy to collaborate with Silicon Flatirons on this conference,” said Suzette Malveaux, Moses Lasky Professor of Law and Director of the Byron White Center. “The Byron White Center is very much focused on cutting edge constitutional law issues, and there just seemed nothing more cutting edge than the rapid pace at which AI was impacting every facet of our lives, including our fundamental rights under the U.S. Constitution.”

The conference will feature a lineup of experts across three different panels: AI and Privacy; AI and the Interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and Other Legal Documents; and AI Speech and the First Amendment. Read more about the panelists here. Colorado Law Professor and Silicon Flatirons’ Director of AI Initiatives Harry Surden will deliver the keynote address.

“I’m looking forward to learning from constitutional law scholars, scientists, and interdisciplinary educators from various backgrounds and institutions across the country about what they perceive as the greatest challenges and opportunities of AI,” Malveaux shared. “Many of our Constitutional rights already have been undermined or are in flux, and AI has the power to impact those rights in fundamental ways.”

Each panel will allow ample time for audience Q&A, and the event will be followed by a reception in Boettcher Hall for appetizers, refreshments, and conversation.

“I hope that our participants and audience members will realize the crucial role that we all play in the future of AI’s development and use,” Malveaux remarked. “This is a critical time to not only educate ourselves about this powerful technological moment, but to lean into shaping its future. With so many threats to democracy, it’s important to convene and engage in these conversations.”

The State of Colorado Supreme Court Board of Continuing Legal & Judicial Education has accredited this event as a continuing legal education seminar for a total of 5.00 general credits. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to attendees during the free conference. There is still time to register--click here for more information.

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