Join our PhD program and become an expert in regulation of digital technologies focusing on artificial intelligence. Dive into challenging research topics and explore regulatory issues of one of the most discussed technologies. We welcome curious minds to join our open culture.

Why PhD at KInIT

Rise to excellence

Take advantage of an inspiring environment and become a top expert in your selected AI regulation topic. At Kempelen institute, we prioritize ethical responsibility and societal benefit.

Learn from the best

When working on your dissertation, you’ll have access to distinguished researchers, and industrial partners.

Research that impacts

Choose a research topic that deeply interests you and will enrich the field. At KInIT, we support excellent, original world-class research and the connection with industry and current research and innovation challenges.

Open culture

Our culture is based on trust, openness and respect. That is how great ideas are born. We share knowledge and innovations not only within the institute, but also with our industry partners and other curious people like you.

Build your network

You’ll be teamed up with the best researchers in the region and gain invaluable experience and contacts from abroad that will boost your career growth in industry or academia.

No distractions

You will become a part-time KInIT employee. We will give you all the time and space you need to focus on your research, skills development and growth.

KInIT Law and Digital Technologies PhD program is run in partnership with

Dissertation topics 2024/2025

Generative AI systems and challenges of regulation in the European Union

Supervisor: Matúš Mesarčík (KInIT)
Keywords: generative AI, copyright, data protection, disinformation, AI Act

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With the advent of the generative artificial intelligence systems deployed for public use, the fast-paced development of the technology inevitably disrupts current regulatory frameworks. Many individuals, but also businesses seize opportunities for generating artificial content with these systems, sparking questions that are not sufficiently answered by legislation or judicial interpretation. 

These questions relate to two broad areas: legality of data used for training generative AI systems that are based on large language models (LLMs) and legal use of artificially generated contents. Training data may contain large volumes of personal and non-personal data and potentially copyrighted materials. Additionally, questions concerning the ownership and commercial use of generated content are essential from the point of legal use of such content. However, generative AI systems carry risks including generating violent or disinformation content, deep fakes, potential bias or issues related to liability and accountability.

The dissertation shall contribute to a more nuanced understanding of generative AI and its regulatory landscape within the EU. The topic include many research challenges and areas including:

  • Copyright challenges and generative AI systems
  • Data protection challenges and generative AI systems
  • Transparency of generative AI systems
  • Accountability and liability of providers and users of generative AI systems
  • Tackling spread of disinformation through regulation of generative AI systems

 

Supervising team
Matúš Mesarčík
Ethics and Law Specialist

Tangled web of legal requirements for AI systems used in health-care in the European Union

Supervisor: Matúš Mesarčík (KInIT)
Key words: medical devices regulation, AI Act, health-care, conformity assessment, transparency, human oversight

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing healthcare, offering immense potential for diagnosis, treatment, and personalized medicine. However, the European Union (EU) faces a complex web of legal requirements aimed at ensuring patient safety, privacy, and ethical use of AI in this sensitive domain. Furthermore, specific legal requirements for AI systems in general are not the same as requirements for medical devices according to the sector-specific regulation. 

The dissertation shall delve into the intricate legal landscape surrounding AI-powered healthcare systems in the EU. It may analyze the interplay between the recently adopted EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) with its risk-based approach and sector-specific healthcare directives addressing medical device safety and ethical considerations. The topic include many research challenges and areas including:

  • Identifying potential conflicts and redundancies between the AI Act and existing regulations
  • Ensuring sufficient and appropriate level of human oversight AI systems in healthcare
  • Development of integrated approach for alignment with the EU AI Act and medical devices regulations
  • Ensuring sufficient and appropriate level of transparency in using AI systems in healthcare
  • Examining legal measures to ensure fairness and non-discrimination in AI algorithms used for diagnosis, treatment decisions, and resource allocation
  • Defining legal frameworks for assigning responsibility for potential harms caused by AI systems in healthcare settings
Supervising team
Matúš Mesarčík
Ethics and Law Specialist

Deadlines

  1. Express your interest — by 10 May 2024
    If you’re interested in the PhD study program at KInIT, let us know as soon as possible.
  2. Participate in interviews — by 20 May 2024
    Test your language skills, interview with researchers and match with KInIT values.
  3. Submit the application to Olomouc — by 31 May 2024
    If we choose you, apply for the doctoral program at Palacký University in Olomouc.
    We’ll guide you through the application submission process.
  4. Wait for the decision — expected in July
    Wait for the admission process to finish.
  5. Start at KInIT (September)
    If we choose you, we’ll provide you with further information on your work contract at KInIT. PhD study at Palacký University in Olomouc officially starts on September 1, 2024.

How the PhD study at KInIT works

1

Work at KInIT & study at UPOL

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We provide PhD study in collaboration with the Faculty of Law at Palacký University in Olomouc (Czechia). You’ll be enrolled at the faculty as a full time or combined doctoral student. After you’re accepted for study, you’ll work as a part-time employee at our institute. Your doctoral research will be your primary job role.

2

Carry out research in a selected topic

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You can choose from multiple interesting topics in your dissertation. They are based on different mentoring schemes including research topics supported by industrial research partners or research topics connected to international projects.

3

Join our research teams

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While working at our institute you’ll be a member of a KInIT research team focusing on Ethics & Human Values in Technology. However, you will collaborate with other teams on various projects or on other activities:

4

Change the world

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The rest is up to you! Turn your curiosity and passion for intelligent technologies into new discoveries or inventions making the world a better place.


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“AI is a technology with great potential to benefit humankind. However, as with every new technology, AI carries risks including transparency, fairness, and privacy. Regulation is one of the options how to mitigate these risks.”

Matúš Mesarčík

Ethics and Law Specialist