Delaware plan would let AI agents run companies
Rep. James Comer warns that owners of such firms could avoid liability for harmful AI actions.
Policy#05
334,461
New entities formed in Delaware in 2025
Image: Ars Technica
334,461New entities formed in Delaware in 2025
The short version
- Delaware Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez announced the proposal in a July 2026 Fortune op-ed.
- A draft bill would let an AI-run company have any lawful purpose except the business of banking.
- The draft bill proposes a 30-month regulatory sandbox to test the idea.
- Rep. James Comer said the proposal could protect AI companies and investors from responsibility for reckless harmful actions, and his committee is seeking related documents.
Why it matters
The proposal would give autonomous AI systems a legal identity that can sign contracts, pay suppliers and make transactions. It would also place liability on the human or entity that funds the company, which makes AI accountability a concrete policy question for developers.
“The answer is to wrap AI in legal form. Give an autonomous system a recognizable legal identity and you make it legible to law.”