Delaware's AI-run company plan draws federal scrutiny over accountability fears

A Delaware proposal that would let AI agents operate entire companies could shield business owners from legal responsibility for the technology's harmful actions, US Rep. James Comer warned Governor Matt Meyer in a letter.

Comer, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said the committee is seeking documents about the state's effort to create a new corporate form called an Artificial Intelligence Company, or AIC. He argued the plan is open to abuse, saying it could protect powerful AI companies and their investors from accountability while enabling opaque actors to pursue anticompetitive regulatory capture behind state AI initiatives.

Comer suggested the probe could inform federal legislation to limit state AI regulatory efforts, citing the committee's jurisdiction over intergovernmental relationships.

Under a draft bill that may go to the Delaware legislature, an AIC could pursue any lawful purpose except banking, with AI agents designated to manage the business and its affairs. The bill proposes a 30-month regulatory sandbox to test the idea, and supporters say it would bring added tax and fee revenue to a state already known as a top destination for business entities.