AIs may soon run businesses. Can we ensure these ‘artificial persons’ will follow the law?

ONLY “PERSONS” CAN engage with the legal system — for example, by signing contracts or filing lawsuits. There are two main categories of persons: humans, termed “natural persons,” and creations of the law, termed “artificial persons.” These include corporations, nonprofit organizations and limited liability companies (LLCs).

Up to now, artificial persons have served the purpose of helping humans achieve certain goals. For example, people can pool assets in a corporation and limit their liability vis-à-vis customers or other persons who interact with the corporation. But a new type of artificial person is poised to enter the scene — artificial intelligence systems, and they won’t necessarily serve human interests.