Data is often described as AI's "lifeblood" but there's widespread concern about personal data being unlawfully exploited or processed using AI tools. While the future approach to regulation of AI is still being heavily debated, existing data protection legislation, such as the GDPR and its UK equivalent, is likely to play an influential role – not least because regulators already have powers which they can use to oversee the new technology. In this briefing, we look at how big a role data protection can play in regulating AI and what lessons it may have for other areas. We also discuss how regulators in the UK and EU are responding and what businesses need to do to comply if they are considering the use of AI tools to handle personal data.
