Milei Creates New Legal Category for AI-Run Corporations, Granting Non-Humans Personhood
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · Jun 8
Milei Creates New Legal Category for AI-Run Corporations, Granting Non-Humans Personhood
2 articles · Updated · Financial Times · Jun 8
Summary
Javier Milei said Argentina will create a legal category for non-human corporations, letting AI-run entities operate with corporate personhood even if no human shareholders participate.
That structure would give AI agents powers traditional companies hold—owning assets, hiring staff, trading internationally, suing in court and potentially making political donations—without direct human input or liability.
Milei framed the move as an economic bet, arguing that just as limited-liability companies reshaped commerce, AI corporations could unlock major new wealth and help revive Argentina’s fortunes.
The proposal also raises governance risks because AI systems could exploit legal loopholes or break rules without facing the human deterrent of prison, making sanctions harder to enforce.
The broader warning is historical: a reform meant to turn Buenos Aires into a new commercial hub could instead hand growing economic and political power to non-human entities.
As Argentina births AI 'persons,' could the world's first AI-run state be next?
Will AI be humanity's greatest wealth engine or our new non-human corporate overlord?
If an AI corporation commits a crime, how can justice be served with no one to imprison?
Argentina’s AI Gamble: Granting Legal Personhood to “Non-Human Corporations” in 2026 Sparks Global Debate and Domestic Backlash
Overview
In June 2026, President Javier Milei surprised the world by proposing a new legal category for 'non-human corporations,' aiming to grant legal personhood to AI models. This bold move came just four months after global warnings about such developments, quickly putting Argentina at the center of the international debate on AI governance. The announcement sparked strong reactions, especially from former lawmaker Elisa Carrió, who criticized the proposal as supporting powerful tech interests and warned of serious risks to human dignity and freedom. Argentina’s rapid action highlights both its ambition and the deep concerns surrounding AI legal personhood.