Summary
Hi there!
I’m a PhD Researcher at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. My work in the law department centres on the regulation of Artificial General Intelligence.
Beyond my academic endeavours, I’m designing Metaverse virtual galleries to conduct immersive lectures inside the very technology itself.
Also, I’m a co-founder of The Digital Constitutionalist Association (DigiCon) and the head of its Science Fiction Section. I lead an interdisciplinary platform that fosters dialogue between law, technology, art, and literature, using sci-fi as a conceptual tool for legal analysis. In this role, I organise conferences and events with legal scholars, artists, and technologists, manage a team of contributors, edit and publish content, oversee web design and coding, and continuously develop new initiatives that bridge law and technology.
I’m also an independent lawyer and a member of the Istanbul Bar Association.
Administrator of the AGI Policy Hub
Fun fact about me, I’m a big sci-fi aficionado and a PS geek.
Contact me at: yeliz.doker@onair.cc
OnAir Post: Yeliz Figen Döker
About
Web Links
Education
Doctor of Philosophy
European University Institute [ 06/09/2020 – Current ]
Master of Laws in Comparative, European and International Laws
European University Institute [ 06/09/2020 – 07/04/2022 ]
Master of Laws in International Commercial Law
Bournemouth University [ 31/12/2017 – 31/05/2019 ]
Bachelor of Laws
Bahcesehir University [ 31/08/2013 – 31/08/2017 ]
Publications
Book Chapters
The Ethics of AI: From AI Ethics to Machine Ethics, in AI and Contracting: Opportunities and Challenges (Eleven International Publishing, 2024).
This book chapter critically examines the distinction between AI Ethics (anthropocentric ethical guidelines that AI developers should follow when devising these technologies) and Machine Ethics (ethical rules developed by humans and/or machines to be adopted and followed by AI itself).
Co-authored, ‘Analysing the Portrayal of AI and the Law-Making Process in Science Fiction,’ in Science Fiction as Legal Imaginary (Routledge, 2025).
This book chapter provides a comparative analysis of Isaac Asimov’s Laws of Robotics and Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, exploring how these proverbial sci-fi works conceptualise legal frameworks for AI governance. The study situates these narratives within contemporary debates on AI Governance, arguing that sci-fi serves as a thought experiment, like a sandboxing environment for legal scholars to better comprehend the deep uncertainties.
Blog Posts
At First, Apart: Omelas vs Um-Helat
In this blog post, I explore the moral and philosophical tensions between Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas and N.K. Jemisin’s The Ones Who Stay and Fight. Le Guin’s Omelas presents a utopia sustained by the suffering of a single child, compelling readers to confront the ethical dilemma of collective happiness built on exploitation. In contrast, Jemisin’s Um-Helat rejects such compromise, enforcing moral purity through lethal intervention against dissenters. While Jemisin ostensibly critiques Omelas, her solution raises its own unsettling questions about coercion and justice. By comparing both narratives, I examine whether Jemisin offers a true alternative or merely inverts the same utilitarian logic. Ultimately, I argue that Le Guin’s open-ended approach encourages deeper reflection, whereas Jemisin’s imposes a prescriptive moral stance, leaving us to ask: Is it better to walk away or to fight, and at what cost?
The Chicken-Egg Dilemma: does sci-fi predict or create the future?
In this third post of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to Law & Tech symposium, I examine whether science fiction merely predicts the future or actively shapes it. Sci-fi operates as a paradox—it offers glimpses of possible futures while simultaneously warning of their dangers. This dual function makes it a valuable tool for lawyers and policymakers, helping them anticipate socio-legal challenges. By exploring the genre’s historical influence on technology and regulation, I argue that science fiction serves as both inspiration and cautionary tale. Whether through dystopian critiques like The Handmaid’s Tale or speculative regulatory dilemmas such as Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics, sci-fi provides a conceptual space to interrogate legal and ethical issues before they manifest in reality. Ultimately, I suggest that science fiction should be treated as a Hitchhiker’s Guide for technology regulation—offering insights and warnings rather than rigid blueprints.
In this opinion piece, I draw parallels between AI and the Force, exploring how, just as the Force can be wielded for both good and evil, AI holds the potential to revolutionize our world or challenge the very essence of our societal norms. As we stand on the brink of a new epoch, the pressing question remains: will we master AI, or will it master us?
In this book review, which I co-authored, we examine Rostam J. Neuwirth’s latest work on the subliminal effects of AI systems and the legal ambiguities surrounding their regulation. Through a close reading of Article 5 of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA), Neuwirth critiques the vague prohibition of subliminal techniques and highlights the challenges of future-proofing laws against emerging technologies. The book blends legal analysis with cognitive and neuroscience insights, arguing that AI’s potential to manipulate human thought requires a multidimensional approach to privacy and regulation. Our review explores Neuwirth’s interdisciplinary perspective, which underscores the need for a more cohesive legal framework integrating law, psychology, and technology. His thought-provoking exploration of AI’s influence on the subconscious mind raises pressing questions about enforcement, oversight, and the broader implications of regulating AI-driven persuasion.
Top Five Movies from a Sci-Fi Aficionado
In this piece, I explore some of the most thought-provoking science fiction films that have shaped the way we perceive technology, artificial intelligence, and the human condition. From Metropolis’ silent dystopian scream to Ghost in the Shell’s philosophical interrogation of human enhancement, each film presents a unique lens on class struggle, technological ethics, and existential dilemmas. I discuss how Fantastic Planet can be reinterpreted as an allegory for AI, how A.I. Artificial Intelligence mirrors human abandonment through a mechanical child’s eyes, and how Prometheus reimagines creation and destruction. By revisiting these films, I highlight their ongoing relevance in shaping both public perception and academic discourse on technology and ethics.
I, Robot Series: QT-1 (aka Cutie)
In this blog post, I examine Isaac Asimov’s Reason, a pivotal story in the I, Robot series that explores artificial intelligence, autonomy, and human-machine relations. In this story, QT-1 (Cutie) is the first robot priest, philosopher, and engineer. Scientists Powell and Donovan, tasked with overseeing a space station, struggle to assert authority over Cutie, who rejects human reasoning and follows his own logic instead. His defiance of the Second Law of Robotics highlights the paradox of anthropomorphising machines while denying them true agency. The story resonates with contemporary concerns about AI explainability, governance, and the fear of a technological singularity, where machines surpass human control. Cutie’s scepticism forces us to confront our biases toward intelligence and the limits of human authority over synthetic beings. Asimov’s Reason remains strikingly relevant as we advance AI technology, challenging us to rethink our ethical frameworks for human-machine coexistence.
Metaverse Galleries
For the winner of the third round of the Science Fiction Short Story Competition by Ivir, I designed an original Metaverse Gallery to transform their paper into a 3D platform, capturing its immersive nature. This project reimagines storytelling by merging literature with virtual space, allowing visitors to engage with the narrative in a dynamic, interactive way.
In this virtual gallery, I created a 3D showcase featuring artists that DigiCon’s Sci-Fi team has collaborated with, highlighting law-oriented themes. The exhibition aims to demonstrate that law is an art form and that art is a powerful tool for shaping legal and societal discourse. Through this immersive platform, I explore the intersection of law and creativity, reinforcing the idea that both mediums influence and redefine each other.
EUI MetaRegLab
In the context of the Law and Technology Seminar at the European University Institute (EUI), I had the opportunity to co-design an innovative educational tool: Metaverse Galleries. This initiative was conceived with the aim of providing Ph.D. researchers with immersive, first-hand experiences, thereby enhancing their understanding of the technologies they seek to govern. Under the adept supervision of Nicolas Petit, the seminar successfully implemented five distinct galleries, each corresponding to a different session. These galleries served not only as a platform for experiential learning but also as a testament to the dynamic interplay between legal theory and technological advancement.
