Artificial intelligence technologies – a subject of a crime or an instrument / means of committing a crime?

The introduction of technologies (systems) using artificial intelligence is aimed at creating conditions that improve the quality of life of the population. At the same time, when using these technologies/systems, there are risks of causing harm/damage to various objects of criminal law protection. It is already becoming obvious today that artificial intelligence technologies (systems) can be used as a tool or means of committing a socially dangerous act. The creation of a strong or universal artificial intelligence capable of solving various problems without human participation, leads scientists to speculate about the possibility of recognizing it as an independent subject of a crime.

Objective. To identify the problems of criminal-legal response to socially dangerous acts committed using artificial intelligence technologies (systems). To achieve this goal, tasks have been set related to the design of situations in which harm/damage to objects protected by criminal law is possible when using artificial intelligence technologies (systems); determining the possibility of recognizing artificial intelligence technologies (systems) as a subject of crime and criminal liability.

Methods. The research is based on the universal dialectical method of cognition, as well as a set of general scientific and specific scientific research methods (analysis, synthesis, logical, ascent from the abstract to the concrete, induction, deduction, etc.).

Results. It has been determined that currently technologies (systems) using artificial intelligence are mainly used to commit cybercrimes. Expansion of the sphere of criminal application of these technologies (systems) is predicted. Among the advantages of using these technologies (systems) in the process of committing socially dangerous acts, the possibility of their use in any territory, the physical safety of the subjects using them and the complexity of their detection are distinguished.

It is concluded that artificial intelligence technologies are currently only instruments or means of committing crimes. Subjects of crimes are individuals who design, produce or use technologies (systems) of artificial intelligence to perform the objective side of a socially dangerous act.

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