2400177 – Human vs. Machine: (Un-)Biased Legal Decision-Making?  

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1. Termin: 13.11.2025 9:00-15:00 Uhr (Seminarraum Nr. 313, bei uns am Institut)

2. Termin: 05.02.2025 9:00- 16:00 Uhr (Seminarraum Nr. 313, bei uns am Institut).

Content: This seminar provides an overview of the foundational principles of behavioral economics and their relevance to public law. Special attention is given to (biased) decision-making, both from a substantive and procedural perspective. Students will explore how regulation should be designed to account for cognitive biases and achieve intended policy outcomes. In addition, the seminar will address the role of automated decision-making systems - examining how such systems are influenced by, and may also reinforce or mitigate, behavioral biases.

The seminar will cover the following topics:
• Introduction to (behavioral) economic theory and its application to law
• Cognitive biases and their impact on (public) decision-making
• Different types of regulation in light of behavioral insights
• Implications for automated decision-making systems
• The role of human biases in the AI Act
Workload
Annotation:
Algorithmic decision-making is often treated as a black box—something that should not be permitted to make decisions in legal contexts. In response, Article 14 of the EU AI Act requires high-risk AI systems to be designed in such a way that they can be effectively overseen by natural persons. This human-in-the-loop requirement stems, among other things, from the perception that AI systems operate ambiguously and produce decisions that are not fully comprehensible.

However, treating humans in comparison as fundamentally transparent or fully rational decision-makers is equally naïve. Understanding how people actually behave—not just how they should behave—is essential for designing effective, fair, and legitimate legal systems. Traditional legal research often assumes rational actors, yet behavioral research shows that cognitive biases, heuristics, and emotional influences shape the decisions of both citizens and public officials.

This seminar addresses that gap by equipping students with behavioral insights to critically assess and improve legal and administrative. A particular focus is placed on how human biases are already embedded in the data underlying automated decision-making systems, potentially reproducing or amplifying unfairness. At the same time, students will explore how such systems can be intentionally designed to mitigate behavioral distortions and support better decision-making.

Program of Study:
Master Informatics; B.Sc. / M.Sc. Business Informatics


Area of Specialization: Master Informatik: Ergänzungsfach Recht

Master Wirtschaftsinformatik: Seminar aus Rechtswissenschaften
Master Computer Science: Seminar: Law and Legal Studies For Master modules only

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13. Nov 2025

5. Feb 2026

Seminar

Deutsch

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Dozent: Thomas Holzhausen (thomas.holzhausen@kit.edu)

Bei Inhaltlichen Fragen zum Seminar: Herr Holzhausen

thomas.holzhausen@kit.edu

Unbegrenzt – wenn online geschaltet

Sie können diesem Kurs direkt beitreten.

Bis: 30. Okt 2025, 23:00

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5

6. Nov 2025

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