Mimi is Professor of Law and incoming Head of School at the School of Private and Commercial Law at UNSW Law & Justice. We asked Mimi about her upcoming research endeavours.
What are you excited to be working on at the moment?
I am very excited about a project I have been leading over the past year on Generative AI and the law involving 35 researchers from Asia, Europe, Americas and Africa. The papers from the project will be published by Cambridge this year in the first Handbook on Generative AI and the Law. Our book will provide a comprehensive exploration of Generative AI from interdisciplinary perspectives, addressing a range of technical, legal, ethical, and policy challenges.
Are you working on anything China related right now?
In addition to leading the project, I will be contributing a chapter to this handbook. The chapter examines China’s Interim Measures for the Management of Generative AI Services (the Measure), the world’s first specialised legal instrument targeting generative AI. The Measures focus on various risks associated with generative AI technology, particularly content safety and security, and impose various obligations on AI service providers. At the same time, a key policy objective is to promote the growth of China’s generative AI industry. I make several recommendations for a more nuanced regulatory approach that clarifies and balances liability of different regulated actors and provides ‘safe harbours’ for service providers.
What research impact and engagement work have you been engaged in?
As a researcher studying regulation of new and emerging technologies over the past decade, I have been very fortunate to have served in various advisory roles for governments and international organisations. Notable senior appointments include the UK’s Centre for Data Ethics and Governance (government expert body on responsible AI and data innovation), Senior Data Governance Panel of the Ministry of Justice and Judiciary, the Civil Justice Council’s Futures Group and LawtechUK Panel. I also served as the UK representative on international taskforces and panels, including the G7 and World Economic Forum Taskforce on Governance for a Digitalised Society, UNIDROIT Working Group on Digital Assets and Private Law and the World Bank Group Taskforce on Technology and Access to Justice. I also represented the UK in the World Forum on Rule of Law in Internet, at the invitation of Chinese Supreme People’s Court President Zhou Qiang (photo below).
Do you have a regular research practice that you can share?
Take a notebook everywhere – you never know when an idea for the next book or paper will pop up!
Is there a particular topic you would like to connect with other scholars and industry partners on?
I'm excited about connecting with colleagues in industry and academia who are interested in exploring the potential of AI in financial and legal services and the governance of AI from a comparative and international perspective.
How can people in and outside of UNSW connect with you and your work?
Get in touch with me: mimi.zou@unsw.edu.au