Lucas Cardiell joined the Law Department with a rich academic background encompassing an LLM in comparative, European, and international laws, a master's degree in international human rights law, a master's degree in sociology, and a bachelor's degree in international relations.
Lucas' doctoral research - Human Rights in the Midst of Intelligent Humanoid Robots’ Rise: The Good, The Bad, And the Uncertain - lies at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and human rights. It envisions a future where humans and intelligent humanoid robots (IHRs) coexist, shaping and being shaped by each other. Focusing on these robots, the research analyses how this coexistence might impact fundamental rights and values, such as the right to privacy, dignity, consent, and non-discrimination.
His thesis presents a compelling analysis, structured around two main pillars: human rights impacts and expert opinions. In analysing the human rights impacts, Lucas highlights the following key findings: firstly, AI and IHRs pose significant challenges to human rights and values, particularly in the right to privacy and data protection; secondly, as IHRs become more sophisticated, replicating not just the human appearance but also human behaviour and conversation skills, vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with cognitive disabilities might fall victim to emotional deception and manipulation; thirdly, the absence of adequate regulation for AI is alarming, necessitating urgent legislative action to mitigate potential harm; and lastly, the future trajectory of AI and IHRs remains uncertain, with both promising advancements and risks of failure.
Lucas supports these findings with insights from interviews with experts across different countries and continents, as well as with leading figures such as Hiroshi Ishiguro. These in-depth conversations revealed not only the potential of AI and IHRs, but also the challenges and ethical considerations that need to be addressed. Lucas' research makes several notable contributions to the field: firstly, it deepens our understanding of AI and IHRs in the context of human rights; secondly, the in-depth interviews brought practical expertise into theoretical knowledge, providing evidence about the different approaches to AI and robots; and lastly, it establishes a new classification to analyse privacy concerns in the context of IHRs. The thesis proposes a more nuanced understanding of privacy as an evolving concept, rather than a single, unchanging concept. It categorises privacy into essential aspects that offer a more practical framework for examining privacy concerns in the age of IHRs.
While the rapid progress of AI and IHRs holds immense potential, it also raises critical questions about control and ethical implications. How can we ensure AI and robots are under control? The number of national, multinational, and international regulatory initiatives is increasing. At present, more than 100 countries are preparing regulatory initiatives. Some initiatives favour translating pre-existing ethical standards and guidelines to translate them into law to fill the emerging "regulatory vacuum." Based on his research, Lucas proposes a solution that is a human rights-centred approach to IHRs. By deepening the understanding of two distinct fields, AI and human rights, his research offers a vision of how existing human rights frameworks, particularly those related to privacy and data protection, can be challenged. It also shows how to develop a new framework and regulation to address these challenges.
What inspired Lucas to choose this particular topic? It was a profound belief in the potential of AI and humanoid robots to improve human lives. Despite the inherent risks, Lucas envisions a future where these technologies serve as allies in advancing human rights, offering companionship to the isolated and assistance to the marginalised.
As for his future, Lucas plans to continue his academic journey. As a first step, he will turn his doctorate dissertation into a book. He will also apply for post-doctoral positions or teaching roles in Europe and beyond.