F. Patrick Hubbard

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About

F. Patrick Hubbard is a legal scholar whose research sits at the compelling intersection of emerging technology, tort law, and regulatory policy, with a particular focus on the rise of autonomous and sophisticated robotic systems. His pioneering work examines how existing legal frameworks can adapt to address the unique challenges posed by increasingly intelligent, mobile machines — most notably driverless automobiles and other autonomous robots capable of causing physical harm. In his widely recognized 2014 paper, "'Sophisticated Robots': Balancing Liability, Regulation, and Innovation," Hubbard explores how society can responsibly manage the risks introduced by autonomous systems while still fostering technological progress, a contribution that has garnered 18 citations. His 2016 follow-up deepens this analysis by evaluating the efficiency and fairness of existing tort law in allocating physical injury risks arising from robotic systems, accumulating an additional 8 citations. Hubbard's scholarship is particularly valuable for policymakers, legal practitioners, and technologists grappling with questions of accountability in an age of artificial intelligence. His nuanced approach — weighing innovation incentives against individual protection — makes him an essential voice in the rapidly evolving discourse surrounding robot law and liability.