Abstract :-

Sofia, the world’s best-known humanoid bot has challenged legal regimes in the world. Rapid and unregulated development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has major repercussions for Legal personality. AI which is a specialized area of Information Technology (IT), focuses on the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines has become an important area in the ongoing global fourth industrial revolution. This new development has created opportunities as well as the challenges everywhere in the global society, has not been sufficiently investigated in Sri Lanka.    In this Back drop, this paper explores current legislation, policies and legal regulations of AI in Sri Lanka with two other jurisdictions in order to sort the solutions to the research problem which questions the sufficiency of the legislation to protect AI status of BOTS in order to reach its main objective to examine the challenges of AI on the legal regime paying special emphasis to Sri Lanka. The research rested on qualitative approach to study by usage of primary and secondary sources, materials included national and international legislation, academic and media data. The study stood on the comparative legal analysis, integrated legal interpretation and modeling. In addition to that, key informants were interviewed where necessary to construct strong arguments and balanced conclusions or recommendations.  This research argues that special emphasis should be laid to the prospective of treating AI as an autonomous legal personality and separate subject of law and control. The article identifies major approaches in legislation and practice on national regulation of AI and explores a number of current options: AI as a subject of law introduced into national legislation without prior background, AI as a subject of law equal to a person, and regulated or not regulated by separate rules of law, etc.

Findings laid grounds to conclude that Sri Lanka has not still been prepared for the challenges posed by AI within the legal system of the country. Some awareness and preparedness are visible in exploiting the opportunities offered by the AI. The legal educational institutions are slowly working to expand the AI components to their study programs. Infrastructural facilities for AI are insufficient at legal institutions in the country and for preliminary recommendations on legal drafting with regard to AI status as that of autonomous legal personality.   Policy recommendation can be suggested that, it is essential to introduce accelerated programs to bridge the existing gaps in the AI in the country. Awareness programs would be useful at the initial stage covering all important layers of the legal system in the country. Some basic components should be introduced to the school curriculum to make people aware of the implications of AI on legal system of the country. Sufficient public funds should be allocated with proper planning horizons in this exercise and they can be used for development of national legislation and further research on legal aspects of robotic AI.

Keywords— AI, Chat Bot, Humanoid Bot, Legal Personality, Legal Status, IP