Smart Robots and Civil Liability in Jordan: A Quest for Legal Synthesis in the Age of Automation

Abstract

This paper embarks on a pivotal scholarly journey to scrutinize the civil liability implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the Jordanian legal framework. As AI transforms from a speculative concept into an omnipresent reality, it presents unique jurisprudential challenges, particularly civil liability. This study aims to bridge the jurisprudential vacuum in Jordan, where an absence of judicial precedents highlights the urgency for legal exploration in this emerging field. Adopting a doctrinal legal research methodology, the study rigorously examines Jordanian liability theories and their applicability to AI and undertakes a comparative analysis with more advanced legal systems in AI regulation. The paper navigates the intricacies of AI in the context of traditional Jordanian legal theories, such as objective and personal liability theories. It extends to explore the challenges of attributing liability in the age of AI. Key findings reveal significant inadequacies in Jordan’s current legal provisions to address AI-induced liabilities, the disconnection between civil liability and AI accountability, jurisdictional ambiguities, and challenges in applying traditional legal concepts to the unpredictable nature of AI. The study proposes granting AI legal personality, legislative intervention, enforcing global accountability standards, advocating for international cooperation, and exploring technological limitations with ethical programming. This research contributes profoundly to academic discourse and policy formulation, particularly in the Jordanian context, highlighting the need for a comprehensive, adaptable, and robust legal framework that addresses the unique challenges posed by AI and robotics in the legal domain.