What kind of sanctions could keep a non-human corporation in check?
The writer is a historian, philosopher and author. His latest book is ‘Nexus’
When I spoke at the World Economic Forum in January of this year, I warned that governments might one day grant AI models legal personhood. I never imagined that “one day” would come around a mere four months later.
Last week, in this newspaper, President Javier Milei of Argentina announced the creation of a new legal category for non-human corporations.
Like traditional corporations, these non-human corporations will enjoy the benefits of legal personhood. They will presumably be able to own assets, hire employees, participate in international trade, sue you in court, and even donate to political campaigns. Unlike traditional corporations, they will be able to do all of this without a single human’s input or liability. All the decisions about buying, selling, hiring, investing, litigating and donating can be done by AI agents. “Human shareholders may participate,” wrote the president of Argentina, “but are not required.”
Milei is a very bold politician, and his determination to improve Argentina’s economic fortunes is commendable. He is correct when he says that the invention of the limited liability corporation was one of the most consequential inventions in history and that creating non-human corporations may be an equally consequential step.