Abstract
To date, neither companies nor states have yet developed a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the human rights impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), but it is clear that the impact of AI on human rights is transnational, which requires a principled but adaptable regime to meet the challenges of new technology in a rapidly changing landscape. This chapter explains that when the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) were adopted in 2011, they formally recognised corporate responsibilities for human rights and imposed an obligation on businesses to do no harm. The chapter sets out this framework and examines key domestic legislative developments in light of the UNGPs. The question how these standards apply to AI is considered, including specific challenges presented by business models and development processes. This chapter introduces the reader to how a human rights-centric approach relates to AI, especially the ‘human rights due diligence’ processes, as advanced by the UNGPs, which can encourage technology companies to adapt their AI operations to respect human rights.