From autonomous systems to algorithmic decision-making, artificial intelligence (AI) is raising questions that extend beyond the scope of law alone.
Interdisciplinary collaboration at the University of Windsor is helping address these questions by bringing multiple fields into the same conversation.
Kristen Thomasen, professor at Windsor Law, led the University of Windsor's hosting of the international We Robot conference on robotics and AI law and policy in 2025, contributing to a new publication on AI governance. (SARAH SMITHERMAN/University of Windsor)
Last year, Windsor Law hosted We Robot, one of North America's leading interdisciplinary conferences on robotics and AI law and policy. Chaired by Professor Kristen Thomasen, the event brought together legal scholars, engineers, roboticists, medical professionals and other experts from around the world to examine the legal and ethical questions raised by rapidly advancing technologies.
That work has culminated in the first peer-reviewed journal special issue to emerge from the We Robot conference series. Published in the Canadian Journal of Law and Technology, the collection brings together interdisciplinary scholarship that reflects the conference's hallmark approach, blending legal analysis with insights from fields such as engineering and medicine.
The special issue includes contributions from Windsor Law faculty members Dr. Thomasen, Dr. Vasanthi Venkatesh and Dr. Shanthi Senthe. Their work appears alongside contributions from international scholars, underscoring Windsor Law's role in global conversations on emerging technology governance.
"Canada is at an important moment in shaping its approach to AI governance," Thomasen said. "Scholarly work like this can help support bold, comprehensive and forward-looking policy decisions."
The research is intended to inform ongoing policy discussions in Canada and internationally, as governments continue to develop rules for artificial intelligence, robotics and digital technologies. This work is especially timely as policymakers address issues including accountability, bias, surveillance, intellectual property and human rights in algorithmic systems.
In addition to advancing legal scholarship, the special issue highlights the interdisciplinary nature of technology governance. By incorporating perspectives from non-legal experts, it reflects a shift toward more collaborative approaches to complex technological risks and opportunities. This also builds on Thomasen's co-edited book Robot Law II, published in spring 2025.
"That kind of interdisciplinary exchange is essential," Thomasen said. "The legal challenges posed by AI and robotics don't exist in isolation. Insights from across disciplines are required to meaningfully engage in regulation."
The publication further reinforces Windsor Law's position as a contributor to global technology law scholarship.
With the release of the special issue, faculty members involved said the impact of the We Robot conference continues well beyond the event itself, extending into policy conversations and academic debates internationally.
The full special issue is available through the Canadian Journal of Law and Technology.
