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Bryant Walker Smith

Expert on Legal Aspects of Emerging Technologies; Leading Authority on the Law of Self-Driving Vehicles; University of South Carolina Law Professor

Expert on Legal Aspects of Emerging Technologies; Leading Authority on the Law of Self-Driving Vehicles; University of South Carolina Law Professor

Travels From Travels From:
Columbia, SC, USA
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Bryant Walker Smith Biography

Bryant Walker Smith is an associate professor in the School of Law and (by courtesy) the College of Engineering at the University of South Carolina as well as an affiliate scholar at the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School. He is also vice chair of the US Department of Transportation's Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee.

Trained as a lawyer and an engineer, Walker Smith advises cities, states, countries, and the United Nations on emerging transport technologies. He coauthored the globally influential levels of driving automation, drafted a model state law for automated driving, and taught the first legal course dedicated to automated driving (in 2012). Walker Smith is currently writing on what it means for a company to be trustworthy. His publications are available at newlypossible.org.

Before joining the University of South Carolina, Walker Smith led the legal aspects of automated driving program at Stanford University, clerked for the Hon. Evan J. Wallach at the United States Court of International Trade, and worked as a fellow at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He holds both an LL.M. in International Legal Studies and a J.D. (cum laude) from New York University School of Law and a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin. Prior to his legal career, Walker Smith worked as a transportation engineer.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 04/18/2024.

Bryant Walker Smith Speaking Topics

  • The Law of the Newly Possible

    Technology affects law. Law affects technology. The relationship between the two goes both ways, and is an ongoing process that deserves study – and discussion – in and of itself, says Professor Bryant Walker Smith, particularly as emerging and new technologies will continue to come into tension with the law seemingly every day. He examines how law responds to, incorporates, and affects the development of new technologies. He also addresses questions of risk and regulation from both public and private perspectives, and considers a range of currently emerging technologies (automated vehicles, drones, robots), as well as historic innovations (the railroad) that offer insights into anticipating and resolving key legal and policy tensions.

  • How Much is Your Life Worth?

    It’s a question that regulators, judges, juries, managers, engineers and researchers confront every day – and they arrive at answers that are simultaneously perplexing yet remarkably consistent. But why and how does this matter? Drawing from a popular class he teaches every year, Professor Bryant Walker Smith brings valuation from the shadows into the spotlight through anecdotes and analysis. He explores how we value life for the purposes of design, benefit analysis, agency rulemaking, litigation and awarding of damages, and the implications of the numbers we put worth. It affects whether a rule happens or doesn’t. Whether a company installs a part or doesn’t. If that same company gets in trouble for not installing that part years later. Whether people who drive ARE in a position to compensate those they may injure. It all comes back to the value of life.

  • Two Worlds Become One: Helping Lawyers and Engineers Speak the Same Language

    They seemingly operate in disparate worlds. They regard one another with equal parts fascination and trepidation. But both lawyers and engineers have a great deal in common, says Professor Bryant Walker Smith (he should know – he’s both), and it’s time they come together and recognize the value of “speaking the same language.” Both professions work with clients to achieve a goal with certain tools (law; science) and certain constraints (ethics; physics), he explains. Both professions emphasize process and fundamentally address reasonableness, and the ability to understand and go between disciplines is important. But Professor Smith also cautions that some words – including control and efficiency – can have different meanings in different domains. Ultimately, lawyers and engineers will help themselves and their clients by knowing when and how to turn to their counterparts. This talk is directed not only at the professionals, but also at the leaders who rely on them.

  • Decoding Perception vs. Reality: Cyber Security and the Law

    Will today’s online theft become tomorrow’s online sabotage? As the digital and physical worlds become inextricably intertwined – on the road, in the sky, in the home and even in our bodies – the destructive potential of cyber attacks is likely to grow. This means that public anxiety could undermine the technologies that could save and improve lives. Professor Bryant Walker Smith decodes the risk perception versus the reality while introducing and exploring the current and future legal frameworks for cyber security, including civil and criminal liability. For example, how do we regulate the security of computer systems? And who is liable for the failures of those systems? The fact is the systems will never be perfect. Professor Smith asks – and answers – the questions that arise as a result: how should the inevitable lawsuits be managed? What are the courts likely to do? How are regulators likely to respond? How should the law evolve to address? This talk is important for both public and private actors as Professor Smith helps all of us understand how to better manage liability and risk – before rather than after the next attack.

  • Liability in an Age of Automation and Connectivity

    Products are no longer static; they’re constantly changing. Technology “systems” – in our homes, our bodies, on the road – are consistently communicating with the companies that created them, remotely monitoring user activity and delivering product updates. Remote updates, end-user license agreements and digital rights management are just a few of the ways companies are dramatically expanding their information about, access to, and control over the products they make and sell. But with great power comes great responsibility, cautions Professor Bryant Walker Smith. He explains why this is, and explores the ways in which companies could incur new obligations and liabilities toward the people who use or are injured by their products. He also explains how the uncertainty caused in part by evolving notions of responsibility could actually drive companies to further embrace these service-oriented business models. While technology evolves so too must the business models and legal tools.

  • What You Need to Know: The Law and Technology of Self-Driving Vehicles

    Self-driving cars and trucks are coming, promising to revolutionize how we travel and even how we live. But before we allow our vehicles to take the wheel, there’s much we – as innovators, investors, regulators and everyday drivers – need to understand about the technologies, their applications and the law, says Professor Bryant Walker Smith. Setting straight any preconceptions or misconceptions, he introduces the surprisingly wide-range of technologies and applications that make up automated driving. He also defines “responsibility” and highlights key legal implications. Delivering a customized, interactive talk that can be as entertaining as it is serious, Professor Smith speaks to both the challenges and the opportunities, helping any audience better understand the future of mobility and automated driving – and why it matters. This talk can also include or focus on other emerging technologies, such as drones or robotics.

Bryant Walker Smith Videos

  • Two Routes to Fully Automated Driving | BRYANT WALKER SMITH ...
    There are two different routes to fully automated driving, and one of those is to have a completely driverless system. For more automotive fleet ...
  • Liability and Automated Vehicles | BRYANT WALKER SMITH | Fleet ...
  • the Road Vehicle Automation Conference - Bryant Walker Smith

Bryant Walker Smith Books

  • Automated Vehicles Are Probably Legal in the United States
    Automated Vehicles Are Probably Legal in the United States

FAQs on booking Bryant Walker Smith

  • How do I book Bryant Walker Smith to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Bryant Walker Smith for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Bryant Walker Smith, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Bryant Walker Smith or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Bryant Walker Smith

    Speaking fees for Bryant Walker Smith, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Bryant Walker Smith are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Bryant Walker Smith, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Bryant Walker Smith speak about?

    Bryant Walker Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Computer Science, Creativity, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Futurism, Innovation, Robotics, Technology.
  • Where does Bryant Walker Smith travel from?

    Bryant Walker Smith generally travels from Columbia, SC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Bryant Walker Smith’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Bryant Walker Smith for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Bryant Walker Smith for your next private or corporate function.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Bryant Walker Smith or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
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Bryant Walker Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as The Law of the Newly Possible, How Much is Your Life Worth?, Two Worlds Become One: Helping Lawyers and Engineers Speak the Same Language, Decoding Perception vs. Reality: Cyber Security and the Law, Liability in an Age of Automation and Connectivity and What You Need to Know: The Law and Technology of Self-Driving Vehicles. The estimated speaking fee range to book Bryant Walker Smith for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Bryant Walker Smith generally travels from Columbia, SC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Avi Rubin, Raffaello D'Andrea, April Falcon Doss, Angela Antony and Matthew Might. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Bryant Walker Smith for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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