Recognizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) As A Legal Person:  Providing A Policy Proposal to The Iranian Legislator

Shahbazinia, Morteza; Zolghadr, Mohammad Javad

doi:10.22034/jstp.2025.11778.1819

Recognizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) As A Legal Person: Providing A Policy Proposal to The Iranian Legislator

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Private Law,, Faculty of Law,, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

² Ph.D. Student of Private Law, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Irany

10.22034/jstp.2025.11778.1819

Abstract

The expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) usage and the potential for damages arising from its application in various domains necessitate the establishment of conditions for compensating losses resulting from AI decisions and actions. This includes enabling direct transactions through AI and removing legal barriers to progress in this field. Consequently, the need to recognize legal personality for AI has emerged as a reasonable solution. Most legal questions regarding AI are related to the possibility of AI acquiring rights and obligations (i.e., having legal personality). This study employs a descriptive-analytical methodology based on library research to explore this issue. The findings indicate that while granting legal personality is theoretically possible, the current regulations in Iran do not support the extension of legal personality to AI. Furthermore, this research proposes that by anticipating legal personality for AI, it would be possible to utilize this recognition in formulating effective legal policies in Iran concerning active legal engagement in the field of AI. The discourse surrounding AI's legal status reflects broader concerns about accountability, responsibility, and the implications of recognizing entities that operate independently of human oversight. As such, establishing a framework for AI's legal personality could pave the way for clearer guidelines on liability and ownership in transactions involving AI systems.

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