About this site
Hello, dear reader, and welcome to AI, Law, and Otter Things! This is an independent publication launched in July 2021 by Marco Almada. Here, I write semi-regularly on topics that capture my attention, which usually means some mixture of comments on regulation, European Union law, artificial intelligence, football (not the US kind), and Warhammer 40,000. And, of course, as the title promises, there are always some mustelids involved. Any opinions are strictly personal and do not reflect the positions of my employers or coauthors—or, for that matter, of any otters.
Who is the author?
I’m Marco Almada, an assistant professor of Law at CUNEF University (Madrid, Spain). My research focus on regulation, with a special focus on how the law governs the learning mechanisms organizations use for dealing with deep socio-technical uncertainty. In particular, I have written extensively on the regulatory frameworks being designed for AI technologies and on the governance of AI in the public sector. My Google Scholar page can provide an overview of what topics I’ve worked on, and I tend to speak a lot about works in progress in this newsletter.
When not working, I enjoy reading (often, but not solely, science fiction) and watching football (I'm a Bayern Munich supporter). As the name of this newsletter suggests, I am also very interested in otters and their conservation. Last but not least, I used to game a lot more than I do nowadays, but I still hold the faint hope of finding a group to play tabletop RPGs, something I haven't done in a long while.
Why should I subscribe?
This newsletter is free and will remain so for the foreseeable future. This means that the only advantage you get by subscribing is to receive the posts straight to your inbox instead of having to check the website or come across somebody (likely me) sharing it on social media. Still, your subscription is very much appreciated, as it helps me know I'm not just speaking to the void. On that note, please don't hesitate to reach out and keep the conversation going!