On September 3, 2025, the Graduate School of Law at Nagoya University had the honor of hosting Dr. Aris Georgopoulos, Assistant Professor in Public Law and European Law at the School of Law of the University of Nottingham (UK) and Head of the Innovation, AI, Strategic and Defense Procurement Research Unit of the Public Procurement Research Group. He delivered a lecture titled “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Public Sector Governance: Bellerophon Rising?”.

Dr. Georgopoulos opened his presentation by illustrating AI’s crucial role in public procurement by exemplifying the UK medical services during the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized that AI can significantly improve public services in crisis situations by ensuring the timely delivery of essential supplies and services. He also addressed the risks and challenges on the contestability of AI-generated decisions by citing controversial cases, such the Netherlands’ System Risk Indication (SyRI) case and the UK’s “Windrush” Visa Applications Algorithm.

The lecture further explored global AI regulatory approaches. The US favors “light touch” approach that fosters innovation-friendly framework with decentralized oversight. Whereas, the EU supports a risk-based, centralized approach that focuses on ethical AI and transparency. In this race, China prioritizes state-driven and innovation-led development with strong national oversight, while the UK develops a proportional approach, blending elements of both US and EU models.

The lecture concluded with active audience engagement, with participants asking question both in person and through online platform.

This special lecture series are part of the “Lawyer Training Program for Globalization,” funded by a donation from the Shinnippon-Hoki Foundation.