Phillip leads the legal aspect of the interdisciplinary training within the SAINTS CDT.
He has a particular interest in tort law and contract, and his teaching and research is focused on this area.
Philip has published widely, and his academic work has been used in argument before the UK Supreme Court, and cited with approval in courts worldwide.
Phillip is a member of the Law School at the University of York.
What is your role in SAINTS, and what does it involve?
I lead the legal aspect of our interdisciplinary training, and coordinate the involvement of law supervisors within SAINTS.
Tell us about your research interests. What do you find most interesting or enjoyable about your work?
I’m a private lawyer by background, with a particular interest in tort law and contract. For me, the replacement of human agents with AI systems has fascinating consequences for private law, particularly tort. We are yet to fully work out what these are, and how the law should adjust to these developments (if at all). I really enjoy the variety of activities available within academia, and the ability to pursue one’s own interests.
What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?
During this academic year, I published two books. One of these is The Cambridge Handbook of Private Law and Artificial Intelligence (Cambridge University Press, 2024). It’s a large volume covering a wide range of private law topics and their interface with AI.
What’s next on the research horizon for you?
I’m currently completing a monograph for Cambridge University Press.
Can you share some interesting work that you read about recently?
Interesting work can come from a wide range of scholars at all levels, and I’m keen to champion the work of junior scholars.
One particularly interesting set of ideas I recently encountered was in a PhD I examined on tort law and AI. It examined different forms of AI constructing different forms of liability for AI with different qualities – I won’t give too much away as the individual will be publishing this material soon!
Another work I think is really worth reading on AI is that of my recent PhD student Stefano Faraoni. His work focuses on persuasive technologies (PTs) that use AI and how (if at all) contract law can be used to regulate the contracts formed as a result of exposure to PTs. It’s well worth reading his papers.
What are your thoughts on the future of AI?
The future of AI should involve professionals and academics from a wide variety of disciplines. Lawyers should be heavily involved in this process, but not simply as obstacles to progress, or as compliance checkers, but rather as informed and creative participants who meaningfully help to shape AI technologies.
What one piece of advice do you have for SAINTS postgraduate researchers?
Your ideas will evolve from the instincts you have within the first year of your programme, particularly as you become more well read within a field, and as you have time to reflect. Don’t be afraid to change your mind and revisit earlier assumptions.