2021 LS&HC Horizons - Flipbook - Page 30
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Hogan Lovells
AI: 2021 is the year for legal innovations
In previous issues of this publication, we have
discussed the potential “future” opportunities
and issues that AI could bring to the life sciences
and health care industries. 2020 showed us that
AI is very much here and happening; not only
that, but it has played a pivotal role in the fight
against COVID-19. Now is the time to get AIready, as the use of AI accelerates in 2021.
2020 was a good year for AI, as multiple
companies across the life sciences and health
care sectors formed collaborations to develop
its use. Such collaborations saw mainstream
players working with start-ups and tech
companies dipping their toes into areas where
they were not previously engaged. This led to
some exciting developments. For example, AI
has accelerated drug repurposing, which has
been of profound importance in a year when
swift drug development has been critical. We
predict that the development and use of AI will
firmly continue in 2021.
Against this backdrop, it has never been
more important to ensure that companies
are equipped with the best legal toolbox for
managing the potential opportunities and risks
associated with AI. In intellectual property, for
example, the issue as to whether AI can be the
inventor of a patent is being tested by courts
and patent offices globally. The consequences
of these decisions could impact ownership of IP
where AI has been used as part of the innovative
process. In data and privacy, companies wishing
to enhance their AI applications with homegrown banks of data are urgently needing to
consider the legal landscape around data use.
As the world continues to face challenges
ahead, never has it been more critical to have
legal solutions in place for the novel issues
raised by AI.
Imogen Ireland
Senior Associate,
imogen.ireland@hoganlovells.com
