Prof. Mag. Dr. Stefan-Michael Wedenig, LL.M, D.C.L, KC*HS, FRAeS is the Executive Director of the Institute and Centre for Research in Air and Space Law at McGill University, as well as an Assistant Professor (Professional) at the Faculty of Law. He holds a Doctor of Civil Law (D.C.L.) and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from McGill University, a Magister Iuris (Mag.iur.) from Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. His current research focuses on the international responsibility of States for space activities involving artificial intelligence (AI), exploring the interactions between AI and public international law, extra-contractual liability, torts and the adaptability of current legal frameworks to new technologies. He explores the complex interactions between advanced AI systems and multiple branches of public international law, focusing on areas such as State responsibility, extra-contractual liability, and torts. A key aspect of his work is analyzing whether existing legal frameworks—originally designed for traditional human-operated activities—are sufficiently adaptable and robust to account for the unique risks, uncertainties, and legal challenges posed by rapidly developing technologies. Prof. Wedenig’s research also investigates the extent to which international law and national legal systems can accommodate novel scenarios, such as attribution of liability for decisions made by autonomous AI agents, the management of AI-induced accidents or malfunctions in aerospace, and the implications for sovereignty, risk management, and jurisdiction.
He has been a core member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) Working Group on Legal Aspects of AI in Space, co-authoring a widely recognized international report on AI regulation in space, presented at major conferences and bodies such as UNCOPUOS, ESOC, ITU, and the Space Symposium in 2025. Beyond his primary research he also explores topics in aviation finance and urban air mobility.