Two WashU faculty members have spent the summer confronting the complex and evolving questions at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), law, and public policy.
As part of the University’s inaugural Digital Transformation Summer Corps, Ryan Durrie, lecturer at WashU Law, and Umar Iqbal, assistant professor at WashU McKelvey School of Engineering, are leading a research project on how AI systems are reshaping our collective understanding of privacy in the digital age. Theirs is one of eight interdisciplinary projects currently underway and includes both law and computer science students, combining technical knowledge with legal insight.
“AI is a remarkable technology, but it’s far from perfect,” said Iqbal. “It can hallucinate, introduce security risks, and create massive privacy concerns as it scales. We’re trying to understand not only how it works, but also what legal guardrails need to be in place as it becomes more embedded in everyday life.”
Iqbal’s research focuses on AI, data privacy, and consumer empowerment, while Durrie’s examines how public policy keeps up with changing technologies. In addition to his research, Durrie is the co-director of the WashU Law AI Collaborative and been active in the national conversation around AI and the law.
“Professor Iqbal and I are exploring some fundamental questions,” said Durrie. “How do we regulate a system that knows everything about us? If we’re going to trust AI agents with the most personal parts of our lives, like our identity and our money, how should we define ethical responsibility, legal liability, or user autonomy?”
As AI becomes more widespread, these questions can no longer be theoretical. Durrie and Iqbal hope to lay the groundwork for a framework that will help policymakers and technologists think through the long-term implications of emerging AI technologies. Together, the team is evaluating real-world vulnerabilities and how they might translate to today’s AI models.
“The web was designed as a simple system that’s now exploded to support shopping, banking, social media, and more,” said Iqbal. “But as we’ve added things like third-party cookies to that system, we’ve seen unintended consequences. We don’t want to repeat that same mistake with AI.”
The Summer Corps provides a 10-week structure for hands-on, interdisciplinary work. Students are analyzing technical and ethical challenges, exploring policy responses, and contributing to ongoing research into how computing platforms can be responsibly designed. The project is also part of a larger ambition to propel WashU to the forefront of AI research and innovation.
“There are very few universities doing this kind of work in a systematic way,” Durrie noted. “We’re trying to build a bridge between technology and policy—because the line will only become more blurred.”
Durrie and Iqbal plan to continue their research after the program ends and hope to use their initial findings as a foundation for future research and advocacy. Their long-term vision includes producing policy briefs, and creating tools that could inform how companies and governments respond to AI at scale.
“It’s not just about understanding how these systems work,” said Iqbal. “It’s about understanding their impact and helping everyone from everyday users to lawmakers develop the context and awareness to make sure those systems have a positive impact on our society.”
At a time when most AI advocates are focusing on what’s happening now, Durrie and Iqbal are embracing the opportunity to think bigger—and plan for what’s next. Learn more about AI at WashU Law here.