On May 14, 2025, Covington convened experts across our practice groups for the Fourth Annual Covington Robotics Forum to explore the legal and regulatory risks and opportunities impacting robotics, AI, and connected devices. Eight Covington attorneys discussed global forecasts relevant to these spaces in a highly concentrated 90-minute session, culminating in an Industry Spotlight moderated by Covington partner Nick Evoy featuring Casey Campbell, Deputy General Counsel and Chief Intellectual Property Counsel at Figure AI. Highlights from the Forum are captured below.
AI & Robotics in the Workplace
Covington attorneys Carolyn Rashby and Anna Oberschelp de Meneses addressed key considerations for companies implementing AI tools. In the U.S., though no federal laws specifically address robotics or the use of AI in employment, employers must still comply with preexisting federal laws, like Title VII and FCRA. Conversely, various states and localities are creating legislation specifically aimed at these topics, such as New York City’s Local Law 144, which regulates employer usage of automated employment decision tools. Similarly, a patchwork of rules exists in the EU, requiring companies to monitor both EU-level regulations and directives, as well as member state-specific laws. Recommended best practices for employers seeking to utilize AI tools and robotics in the workplace include reviewing for, and mitigating potential bias in, AI vendors and tools, maintaining human oversight, and instituting ongoing training and compliance measures.
Product Safety, Product Liability & Risks
Covington attorneys Joshua González and Daniel Auten addressed key considerations for product safety and product liability in robotics. They identified robotics and AI as some of the most actively transforming spaces within product liability law today, highlighting a recent case which found that both a manufacturer of a robotics device and the software developer could be subject to product liability claims. Key defenses in robotics-related product liability suits may include asserting federal or state preemption, arguing for lack of proximate causation, and importantly, pre-planned contractual defenses and indemnifications. On the regulatory side, the CPSC and NHTSA have hosted a number of information gathering meetings on robotics, and will likely continue to issue relevant reports and monitor industry standards. Recommendations for companies in this space include developing strategies for eventual regulatory engagement, monitoring any enforcement activities, and staying abreast of regulatory obligations, such as reporting requirements.
Navigating Robotics in Highly Regulated Industries
Covington attorneys Sarah Cowlishaw and Matt Shapanka addressed the regulatory landscape for robotics in the life sciences and autonomous vehicle spaces.
The regulation of healthcare-related robots varies depending on location: for instance, the FDA regulates premarket approval processes in the U.S., as compared to the CE marking process in the EU. Global regulators are only starting to develop specific frameworks for these robotic and AI tools, with the FDA in particular producing several recent draft guidance and discussion papers. There are also international moves for cooperation in the life sciences space, such as between the FDA, Health Canada, and the UK MHRA.
Separately, a complex and often divergent array of federal, state, and local statutes and regulations address autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the U.S. Key issues across recent AV-related bills include liability, human operator requirements, incident reporting requirements, and use restrictions. The Commerce Department’s Connected Vehicles Rule, finalized this year and potentially subject to expansion by the Trump administration, would also greatly restrict supply chains for AV-integrated hardware or software that incorporate components from China or Russia.
Challenges & Solutions for Supply Chain & Trade Controls
Covington attorneys Stephen Bartenstein and Emanuel Ghebregergis addressed recent trade controls developments and related challenges for AI and robotics supply chains from both a U.S. and EU perspective, including restrictions imposed by the U.S. government in order to protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. They noted that the U.S. imposes upstream and downstream restrictions on robotics and AI supply chains, highlighting the Commerce Department’s May 13th guidance strengthening export controls for AI chips. In contrast, the EU is still building out its AI export framework, but has signaled a desire for stronger export restrictions and an overall intent to reduce the EU’s dependency on countries like China. Recommendations for compliance and risk mitigation strategies included screening sanctioned countries and restricted parties, securely storing and handling controlled commodities and tech, and strengthening due diligence regarding restricted end uses.
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The legal landscape for developments in robotics, AI, and connected technology is rapidly transforming, and businesses must stay agile in monitoring and adapting to these changes. Covington’s Inside Global Tech blog will continue to publish insights and updates to help companies stay ahead of the curve.
For more insights from the Fourth Annual Covington Robotics Forum, connect with our team or explore Covington’s AI Toolkit and Technology Industry Insights pages. We also hope you will join us for future events. Please use this link to sign up for legal updates and invitations to upcoming briefings and forums.