Background

Bryant Walker Smith is an associate professor in the School of Law and (by courtesy) the College of Engineering and Computing at the University of South Carolina, as well as an affiliate scholar at the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School. In 2025, he was a visiting professor at Renmin University of China.

Trained as a lawyer and an engineer, Smith advises cities, states, countries, and the United Nations on artificial intelligence, automated driving, and other emerging technologies. He has testified before the US Senate Commerce Committee, vice-chaired the US Department of Transportation's Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee, served as an expert witness for the State of California, coauthored the globally influential levels of driving automation, drafted a ULC model law for automated driving, and (in 2012) taught the first legal course dedicated to automated driving.

Smith's article on "The Trustworthy Company" is forthcoming in the Georgetown Law Journal, and his article on "Regulating Robotaxis" is forthcoming in the Southern California Law Review. His publications are available at newlypossible.org.

Before joining the University of South Carolina, Smith led the legal aspects of automated driving program at Stanford University, clerked for the Hon. Evan J. Wallach at the United States Court of International Trade, and worked as a fellow at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He holds both an LL.M. in International Legal Studies and a J.D. (cum laude) from New York University School of Law and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin. Prior to his legal career, Smith worked as a transportation engineer.

Teaching

• Products Liability (LAWS 690)
• Technology Law: Law of the Newly Possible (LAWS 680)
• Torts (LAWS 529)
• Transportation Law (LAWS 760)