Plan for AI Agents to Run US Companies Challenged by Lawmakers

The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating a State of Delaware proposal to create companies managed by AI agents, according to Ars Technica. Committee Chair James Comer told Gov. Matt Meyer in a letter that the plan "could be used to protect powerful AI companies and their investors from responsibility for reckless harmful actions." He asked for drafts, agreements with outside contributors, safety records and internal AI chat logs by November 9, Decrypt reports.

The proposed Artificial Intelligence Company could sue, hold property, enter contracts and take on obligations at an AI agent's direction. Its human or corporate member would fund the company but generally would not be liable for its actions, with exceptions covering inadequate capitalization, fraud and willful violations of law.

The proposal would test these companies in a regulatory sandbox lasting 30 months and would exclude banking. Delaware Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez developed the framework through a public and private partnership led by legal AI company Norm Ai.

Comer said the inquiry could inform federal legislation that limits state AI regulatory initiatives. Delaware officials say the framework would make AI agents accountable inside a supervised sandbox, with draft legislation expected next year.