We are delighted to publish this first report from the Centre for Information Policy Leadership’s (CIPL) project on Artificial Intelligence and Data Protection.

In this report, we attempt to describe in clear, understandable terms: (1) what AI is and how it is being used all around us today; (2) the role that personal data plays in the development, deployment and oversight of AI; and (3) the opportunities and challenges presented by AI to data protection laws and norms. We intend for this report to provide a level-setting backdrop for the next phase of our project—namely, working with data protection officials, industry leaders and others to identify practical ways of addressing challenges and harnessing the opportunities presented by AI and data protection.

We are grateful to CIPL members as well as academic and government experts for their contribution to this first document, and we look forward eagerly to collaborating further on the critical effort to identify solutions and practical tools in our forthcoming report.