First Page
411
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) is here in a big way. As society grapples with the implications of this profound new technology, the question of whether AI entities should be granted independent legal recognition, akin to human personhood, has emerged as a pivotal topic in jurisprudence. This Article explores the foundations, evolution, and implications of AI personhood, addressing philosophical perspectives, the development of personhood as a legal fiction (with specific emphasis on corporate personhood), and the need for AI personhood to counter the risks posed by rapidly developing AI technology. It defines the "AI person" as one whose legal recognition furthers a net societal benefit, and it proposes equivalent rights and responsibilities of existing nonhuman persons that might translate to the AI person. This Article then examines the impacts and ramifications of AI personhood, including the need for human intervention and oversight of AI persons, as well as ripple effects of AI personhood throughout society. Despite challenges and potential opposition, this Article argues that AI personhood is a necessary adaptation of entity law that addresses pressing issues with AI and encourages a more equitable and sustainable future for humans and technology.
Recommended Citation
Daniel C. Borges,
Artificial Personhood: The Implications of Recognizing the Legal Personhood of Artificial
Intelligence,
28 Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law
411
(2026)
Available at: https://scholarship.law.vanderbilt.edu/jetlaw/vol28/iss3/1