Delaware's plan to let AI agents run companies triggers a congressional probe
A draft Delaware law would let an AI agent manage a company's day-to-day business while shielding its human owner from liability — and a House committee wants to know why.
What happened: Delaware officials have drafted legislation to create a new corporate entity called an Artificial Intelligence Company (AIC), which could be run day-to-day by an AI agent instead of a person. US Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, sent Delaware's governor a letter demanding documents on the plan, saying it could let AI company owners dodge responsibility for harmful or reckless actions taken by the AI managing their business.
Why it matters: Delaware isn't just any state: about two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated there, so any new entity type it approves could quickly become a national default. Comer's committee says it may push federal legislation limiting what states can do on AI regulation, partly in response to this proposal. The fight is really about who is legally responsible when an autonomous system, not a person, makes the calls that hurt a customer, a worker, or a competitor.
How it works, plainly: Under the draft bill, an AIC is a separate legal entity, like an LLC, but its business is managed by an AI agent acting under a human or corporate 'member.' The member funds the company and collects profits but is generally not liable for what the AI does, unless the member commits fraud, breaks the law willfully, or lets the AIC operate outside its stated purpose. The AIC must stay capitalized and keep a log of its activities. It can do almost anything a normal company can do, except banking.
The rollout: The plan grew out of a 2025 Delaware sandbox resolution and would run as a 30-month pilot before lawmakers decide on permanent rules; the bill could reach the legislature as soon as next year. It was shaped with Norm Ai, a company building AI agents for legal compliance. Delaware's Secretary of State says the framework would generate new fees, and other states are expected to float similar proposals if Delaware moves first.