The New Bill of Artificial Intelligence: Unmanned Vehicles Technology Innovative Experimentation Act

By Chang Li-ching CEO of the Foundation, Chair Professor at Shih Chien University

Promulgated in December 2018, the Unmanned Vehicle Technology Innovation Experiment Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Unmanned Vehicle Act") serves primarily to encourage diverse sectors to invest in the research, development, innovation, and application of unmanned vehicles. By establishing a reasonable and safe environment for innovative experimentation, the Act aims to facilitate the integration of unmanned vehicles into daily life. It stands as Taiwan's first legal regulation specifically governing artificial intelligence research experiments.

The enactment of the Unmanned Vehicle Act reflects not only Taiwan's determination to develop autonomous vehicles but also its broader ambition to advance unmanned vehicle technology. However, this legislation remains relatively unfamiliar to the Taiwanese public, and even to the technology and legal communities. Despite this, it is intimately tied to the future development of the technology industry, holding particular significance in the current era of rapid AI advancement.

This article elucidates the legislative purpose and relevant regulatory content of the Act. In particular, it provides detailed explanations and examples regarding the exemptions from existing regulations (regulatory sandbox provisions), with the hope of serving as a reference for those interested in this legislation.