This kind of feels like it might be looked back on as the moment when the AI craze officially “jumped the shark,” but for what it’s worth, here’s the latest out of Delaware, via this Spotlight Delaware article:

A Delaware committee that has been studying the business uses of artificial intelligence proposed legislation earlier this month to temporarily ease state regulations on companies deploying the fast-growing technology.

The proposed legislation would create a testing ground for companies to use what are called AI agents to autonomously complete business tasks typically done by humans. The AI agents would oversee whole business operations under the umbrella of a new kind of entity, called an Artificial Intelligence Company, or AIC.

Supporters say the resulting regulatory “sandbox” would allow Delaware to test how autonomous AI businesses operate, and provide lawmakers with key data to develop rules governing their use within the state’s prominent corporate franchise.

The legislation is likely to be introduced in the General Assembly next year.

The proposal is intended to help shield the owners of an AIC from liability for AI agents doing, well, AI agent stuff. Over on The Business Law Prof Blog, Ann Lipton questions whether this kind of entity would actually provide the intended liability protection. My concern is more fundamental – why would anyone want to create a legal entity designed to protect the owners of Skynet from liability?

– John Jenkins