Every day, millions of decisions are made based on information provided by computers and millions of transactions are concluded automatically, by means or with the assistance of computer programs. Computers can accept payment and dispense products. Computers can also calculate the optimal price and predict the demand for the product. Technology enables us to automate a wide range of tasks involved in the process of forming contracts. Contrary to popular belief, such novel transacting practices are easily accommodated by existing legal principles, at least when it comes to the common law of contract. The latter is technology neutral and generally disregards the manner the parties’ statements come into existence. Considerable uncertainty would result if the statements we see on our computer screens could be disavowed on the basis that they were the product of mindless computer operations. This article contends that legal analyses must start with the law, not with overdramatized descriptions of technology or the assumption that contract law cannot accommodate such.

中文翻译：

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大谈人工智能或：合同订立的自动化

每天，数以百万计的决策是根据计算机提供的信息做出的，数以百万计的交易是通过计算机程序或在计算机程序的帮助下自动完成的。计算机可以接受付款和分发产品。计算机还可以计算最优价格并预测产品需求。技术使我们能够自动执行合同形成过程中涉及的范围广泛的任务。与流行的看法相反，这种新颖的交易实践很容易被现有的法律原则所适应，至少在涉及普通合同法时是这样。后者是技术中立的，通常不考虑各方声明的形成方式。如果我们在计算机屏幕上看到的陈述可以基于它们是盲目的计算机操作的产物而被拒绝，那么将导致相当大的不确定性。本文认为，法律分析必须从法律开始，而不是从对技术的过度描述或合同法不能容纳这样的假设开始。