As ChatGPT et al. conquer the world, the optimal liability framework for AI systems remains an unsolved problem across the globe. In a much-anticipated move, the European Commission advanced two proposals outlining the European approach to AI liability in September 2022: a novel AI Liability Directive and a revision of the Product Liability Directive. They constitute the final cornerstone of EU AI regulation. Crucially, the liability proposals and the EU AI Act are inherently intertwined: the latter does not contain any individual rights of affected persons, and the former lack specific, substantive rules on AI development and deployment. Taken together, these acts may well trigger a Brussels Effect in AI regulation, with significant consequences for the US and beyond. This paper makes three novel contributions. First, it examines in detail the Commission proposals and shows that, while making steps in the right direction, they ultimately represent a half-hearted approach: if enacted as foreseen, AI liability in the EU will primarily rest on disclosure of evidence mechanisms and a set of narrowly defined presumptions concerning fault, defectiveness and causality. Hence, second, the article suggests amendments, which are collected in an Annex at the end of the paper. Third, based on an analysis of the key risks AI poses, the final part of the paper maps out a road for the future of AI liability and regulation, in the EU and beyond. This includes: a comprehensive framework for AI liability; provisions to support innovation; an extension to non-discrimination/algorithmic fairness, as well as explainable AI; and sustainability. I propose to jump-start sustainable AI regulation via sustainability impact assessments in the AI Act and sustainable design defects in the liability regime. In this way, the law may help spur not only fair AI and XAI, but potentially also sustainable AI (SAI).

翻译：随着ChatGPT等模型席卷全球，人工智能系统的最优责任框架仍是一个悬而未决的全球性问题。2022年9月，欧盟委员会在一项备受期待的举措中提出了两项提案，勾勒出欧洲应对人工智能责任的路径：一部全新的《人工智能责任指令》和一部修订后的《产品责任指令》。这两项提案构成了欧盟人工智能监管的最后基石。关键之处在于，责任提案与《欧盟人工智能法案》存在内在关联：后者未赋予受影响者任何个人权利，而前者缺乏关于人工智能开发与部署的具体实质性规则。综合来看，这些法案很可能在人工智能监管领域引发"布鲁塞尔效应"，对美国及其他地区产生重大影响。本文提出三项新贡献。首先，本文详细审视了委员会的提案，指出尽管它们朝着正确方向迈出了步伐，但最终仍体现出一种半心半意的做法：若按预期颁布，欧盟的人工智能责任将主要依赖于证据披露机制以及一套关于过错、缺陷与因果关系的狭义推定。因此，其次，本文提出了修正建议，这些建议汇总于文末的附录中。第三，基于对人工智能关键风险的分析，本文最后部分为欧盟及其他地区的人工智能责任与监管描绘了未来路线图，具体包括：一套全面的人工智能责任框架；支持创新的条款；将适用范围扩展至非歧视/算法公平及可解释人工智能；以及可持续性。我提议通过《人工智能法案》中的可持续性影响评估和责任制度中的可持续设计缺陷，来启动可持续人工智能监管。通过这种方式，法律不仅有助于促进公平人工智能与可解释人工智能，还有望推动可持续人工智能的发展。