The Necessity of Establishing Intelligent Legal Personhood for AI: Towards a Comprehensive Legal Framework

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Private Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Private Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

3 PhD Student in the Department of Private Law, Faculty of Law, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly vital for human development, with transformative potential across sectors. However, the rapid advancement of technologies like blockchain, cryptocurrency, smart contracts, and the metaverse has created a significant gap between these innovations and existing legal frameworks. As major corporations like Google, OpenAI, Amazon, and Microsoft accelerate AI development, new legal challenges arise, particularly in areas such as autonomous weapons, self-driving cars, and AI-generated content.
These complexities, along with concerns about civil and criminal liability, have led to international responses. The European Union introduced the Artificial Intelligence Act (2021), UNESCO raised concerns about AI's ethical development and potential human rights violations, and a 2023 open letter from the Future of Life Institute, signed by tech leaders, called for a pause in AI experiments to develop regulations. While some fear regulation might stifle innovation, it's essential to ensure AI development aligns with legal standards. The European Union’s Committee on Legal Affairs has proposed recognizing an 'electronic personality' for AI systems making independent decisions. This study examines current frameworks, arguing they are insufficient, and advocates for a new legal framework to establish AI's legal personality.
Method
This research adopts a qualitative approach, analyzing literature, legal frameworks, and case studies related to AI and legal personality. It begins with a comprehensive review of academic works across disciplines such as law, computer science, ethics, and sociology to understand AI's legal challenges. A comparative legal analysis is conducted, examining how various jurisdictions, including the U.S., EU, Japan, and Iran, approach legal personhood for non-human entities. The study also explores relevant case studies involving AI in legal disputes, identifying gaps and risks. Expert interviews with legal scholars and technologists provide additional insights into the feasibility and implications of granting legal personality to AI. The findings are synthesized to propose a framework for AI legal personality, considering operational independence, liability, accountability, and rights protection, aiming to balance AI innovation with safeguarding societal interests.
Conclusions
In conclusion, this study explores the rationale behind the necessity of granting legal personality to artificial intelligence (AI), demonstrating that, given AI's operational independence, possession of separate assets, and the ability to address legal claims associated with this technology, the creation of an "intelligent legal personality" could serve as an effective solution for the legal management of AI. With the rapid development of these technologies and the associated legal challenges, it is crucial to develop new and appropriate legal frameworks that harness the benefits of these technologies while safeguarding individual rights and safety. Establishing appropriate legal measures and developing relevant laws are essential actions that can prevent misuse and protect the rights of individuals and organizations against AI.
In this regard, technical requirements and foundational laws must be integrated into AI design, ensuring that its decisions and actions comply with relevant regulations. Additionally, creating an insurance fund to compensate for potential damages caused to third parties by intelligent legal persons is one of the necessary measures that could be effective in protecting rights and reducing the risks associated with granting legal personality to AI.
Ultimately, the issue of granting legal personality to AI, due to its critical importance and inherent challenges, requires increased international collaboration. Countries and international organizations must work together to effectively manage the associated challenges and ensure the protection of individual rights. This collaboration should involve the exchange of information, the drafting of common standards and laws, and the creation of interactive and coordinated mechanisms among countries and organizations to address the challenges of granting legal personality to AI effectively.
 

Keywords

References

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Law Quarterly
Volume 55, Issue 2
August 2025
Pages 285-312

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