Thomas Dreier

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About

Thomas Dreier is a pioneering legal scholar whose work sits at the intersection of law, technology, and society, with a particular focus on the regulatory challenges posed by service robotics. His research addresses the critical gap between rapid technological innovation and the existing legal frameworks designed to govern it. Dreier’s major contribution lies in framing the legal and ethical dimensions of "non-industrial robotics"—robots designed to interact directly with humans in everyday environments. His most cited work, "Service robotics: do you know your new companion? Framing an interdisciplinary technology assessment" (2011, 31 citations), provides a foundational, interdisciplinary assessment of this emerging field, identifying it as the next major economic frontier. Building on this, his 2012 article "Legal aspects of service robotics" (11 citations) offers a crucial overview of how existing law must adapt to govern these new autonomous agents. By systematically mapping the legal issues—from liability and privacy to safety and ethics—Dreier has established himself as a key voice in the governance of emerging technologies, providing essential guidance for both technologists and policymakers navigating the uncharted territory of human-robot interaction.