CIPIL Evening Seminar: 'Faithful or Traitor? The Right of Explanation in a Generative AI World'

The Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Law (CIPIL) at the University of Cambridge is hosting an evening seminar titled "Faithful or Traitor? The Right of Explanation in a Generative AI World." This event will take place on Thursday, 20 November 2025, at 5:30 pm in Room G24 of the Faculty of Law. The seminar will feature Professor Lilian Edwards, Emeritus Professor of Law, Innovation & Society at Newcastle Law School, as the keynote speaker.

The seminar will delve into the evolving concept of the "right to an explanation" within the context of generative AI technologies. Professor Edwards will examine recent legal developments, including the Court of Justice of the European Union's decision in the Dun and Bradstreet case and the EU AI Act's Article 86, which introduces a right to an explanation of AI systems. The discussion will focus on the challenges of defining what constitutes an adequate explanation, considering factors such as the transparency of source code, the ability to contest AI decisions, and the potential for misleading yet plausible descriptions generated by large language models.

This hybrid event offers attendees the option to participate in person at the Cambridge Law Faculty or virtually via Zoom. Registration is required for online attendance. The seminar is particularly relevant for legal professionals, academics, policymakers, and technologists interested in the intersection of law and artificial intelligence, providing valuable insights into the legal implications of AI decision-making processes.

The Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Law (CIPIL) is renowned for its interdisciplinary research in intellectual property and information law. Drawing on the resources of the University of Cambridge, CIPIL brings together legal academics recognized for their historical and doctrinal research, promoting well-informed interdisciplinary work in these fields.