Robot, Inc.: Personhood for Autonomous Systems?

22 Pages Posted: 10 Mar 2020

See all articles by Gerhard Wagner

Gerhard Wagner

Humboldt University School of Law; University of Chicago Law School

Date Written: February 17, 2020

Abstract

To date, no legal system classifies robots or other autonomous systems as legal subjects, instead leaving them to share the classification of other artifacts: objects. This arcticle examines whether the law should change and recognize robots and software agents as "ePersons", capable of attracting and absorbing tort liability. It develops the concept of "liability subject" and weighs the costs and benefits of classifying ePersons accordingly. In doing so, it provides an outline of liability regimes for traditional liability subjects, namely manufacturers and users, in order to measure the gap in the liability system that robot liability could fill.

Keywords: Torts, Liability, Legal Personhood, ePerson, Artificial Intelligence, Robots, Products Liability, User Liability

JEL Classification: K10, K13

Suggested Citation

Wagner, Gerhard, Robot, Inc.: Personhood for Autonomous Systems? (February 17, 2020). Fordham Law Review, Vol. 88, No. 2, 2019, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3539781

Gerhard Wagner (Contact Author)

Humboldt University School of Law ( email )

Unter den Linden 9
Berlin, 10099
Germany

University of Chicago Law School ( email )

1111 East 60th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
United States

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