Another essay by Flip Petillion: From Principle to Practice

This essay builds on the argument that AI is not exceptional and shifts the focus from principle to practice.

If preparedness is the right way to think about AI-related risk, what does that mean in legal and institutional terms? This contribution explores preparedness where prediction ends: in liability, access to AI, professional responsibility and institutional response.

Drawing on familiar examples from law, public safety and recent judicial decisions involving the misuse of AI, the essay argues that preparedness is not about eliminating risk or predicting every outcome. It is about organising responsibility in conditions of uncertainty — before harm occurs.

Preparedness, in this sense, is not a retreat. It is governance.