Madison Van Doren, ’29, brings a background in linguistics and artificial intelligence research to UChicago Law. A Colorado State University graduate who grew up in England and the United States, Van Doren has led research on AI safety and studied the challenges posed by rapidly evolving technology. We spoke with her about the path from AI research to law school, her interest in the legal questions surrounding emerging technologies, and what drew her to UChicago Law.

Tell us a little about your background and the path that led you to law school.

Growing up in England and the United States, I developed an early fascination with language as a representative of culture and agent of change. This led me to study the relationship between language, social identity, and technology first as a student then an AI researcher in Silicon Valley. It was my work in AI safety that introduced me to the ongoing legal debates around artificial intelligence and inspired me to pursue law.

What are one or two professional, academic, or personal experiences that have most shaped who you are, and why?

Throughout my undergraduate studies, I worked in a linguistics lab and contributed to the publications of others. While I dreamed of publishing my own research, I held back, believing a PhD would be necessary to prove my legitimacy as a scholar. The day I decided to submit my work regardless changed my life. I have since lead a research team to publish at several top AI venues and mentor others in the field with an interest in research to do the same, regardless of their prior academic and professional background. Today, I believe that diversity of thought improves the pursuit of knowledge for all and that insight can come from anywhere, regardless of author credentials.

What inspired you to pursue a legal education?

My interest in law began in 2014 while studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea. I wrote my secondary school thesis on Japanese occupation and the rise of Korean communism, considering a career in foreign service. It wasn’t until two years ago, when I founded the AI research program at a leading data services firm, that I encountered first-hand the challenges frontier model builders, such as Meta and Anthropic, face in today’s rapidly evolving legal environment. I spearheaded several AI safety research initiatives and incorporated an ongoing AI case law tracker into our research workflow. This work introduced me to leading technical, legal, and political scholars who inspired me to combine my technical expertise with legal scholarship to broaden my potential impact.

What areas of law or legal issues are you most interested in exploring?

Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool but also has immense capacity for harm. As an AI researcher, I have published work that exposes substantial safety and alignment gaps in today’s state-of-the-art models. Defining “safety” for model builders and consumers will be essential to the success of the industry in the coming years. Thus, I seek to understand the existing landscape around product liability, copyright, and intellectual property to better address how AI and future emerging technologies can best be accommodated in our legal system and society at large.

Why did you choose the University of Chicago Law School?

I visited several top universities during my law school admissions cycle, anticipating a difficult decision. In the end, the University of Chicago made it easy. From the moment I stepped on campus, I was impressed with the academic and intellectual rigor palpable amongst the faculty and student body. Coming from a research background, I see the pursuit of knowledge as a goal unto itself and such is not always the case in professional education such as law. The University of Chicago Law School is embracing AI with an unmatched enthusiasm amongst their peer schools.

What impact do you hope to have with your legal education?

Deploying novel and disruptive technologies challenges leaders across domains to reevaluate their existing schema and law is no exception. Answering complex questions around AI — such as those pertaining to liability and intellectual property — will require both legal and technical expertise. I am pursuing legal scholarship to do my part in answering these questions and building a positive future for humans and AI systems to thrive.

What are you most excited to experience as a UChicago Law student?

Artificial intelligence is a complex interdisciplinary field which requires collaboration across a range of expertise from computer science and linguistics to philosophy and law. I look forward to fostering community within the Law School and across the Midway to tackle novel questions in AI scholarship.

What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of school and work?

I am a teatime enthusiast and approach scones, biscuits, and brews with the discernment of a sommelier. Hosting others for tea is one of my favorite past times and I look forward to getting to know my classmates over a cuppa.

What are a few fun facts about you that your classmates might be surprised to learn?

I am a lifelong theatre enthusiast and classically trained soprano. I have seen more West End productions than I can count! I am currently spending my summer relearning piano and singing Cabaret.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with the UChicago Law community?

I have a 10- year-old rescue dog who aspires to be the unofficial UChicago Law mascot.