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Deus Ex Machina?

Some Remarks on Public Procurement in the Second Machine Age

Paweł Nowicki

DOI https://doi.org/10.21552/epppl/2020/1/8

Keywords: Artificial intelligence, Machine learning, Blockchain, Smart contracts, Future of public procurement, Digitalisation


The ‘Second Machine Age’ is a term created by two MIT professors, Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee, and means the time of emerging technologies: artificial intelligence, machine learning, neurotechnology, biotechnology, virtual reality, Big Data, Internet of Things, blockchain, etc. Emerging technologies are seemingly not related to law, and in particular to public procurement law, but enter into complex relationships with legal regulation. This paper aims to introduce both the opportunities and challenges that some of these technologies (AI, blockchain, smart contracts) create for public procurement praxis, showing that it’s not deus ex machina. New technologies will undoubtedly enrich and improve the public procurement system, but they also raise legitimate ethical and legal concerns.
Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Machine learning; Blockchain; Smart contracts; Future of public procurement; Digitalisation.

Dr Paweł Nowicki is an Attorney, Head of Public Procurement Practice and European Law, State Aid and EU Funds Practice at Prof. Wierzbowski & Partners. Assistant Professor, Department of International and European Law, Faculty of Law and Administration, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun (Poland). EPPPL Case Law Editor. ORCID: 0000-0002-0604-0308. For correspondence: <mailto:pnowicki@law.umk.pl>.

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