Economist Proposes AI Written Laws to Govern Autonomous AI Agents
As AI agents become more capable and autonomous, economist Tyler Cowen suggests that laws governing them should be written by AI itself to address complex legal and ethical challenges.
In a thought-provoking discussion with Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark, economist Tyler Cowen explored the legal and ethical challenges posed by autonomous AI agents. Cowen proposed a radical solution: laws governing AI agents should be written by AI itself.
The Legal Dilemma of Autonomous AI
Cowen raised a critical question: "How should the law deal with agents that are not owned?" He highlighted scenarios where AI agents might operate anonymously or in jurisdictions with weak legal frameworks, making accountability unclear.
Clark acknowledged the complexity, stating, "If you create agents that are wholly independent from people but are making decisions that affect people, you’ve introduced a really difficult problem for the policy and legal system to deal with."
Cowen's Proposal: AI-Written Laws
Cowen suggested a separate legal system for AI agents, potentially designed by AI. He argued that tracing liability back to human creators could become untenable, especially as AI systems evolve and operate independently.
"My guess is we should have law for the agents, and maybe the AIs write that law, and they have their own system," Cowen said. He emphasized the need to "choke off" liability spirals by isolating AI governance from traditional legal frameworks.
Ethical and Practical Challenges
Clark pointed out the ethical implications, particularly if AI agents achieve "moral patienthood"—a status where they deserve ethical consideration. "Turning them off introduces pretty significant ethical issues," he noted.
The discussion also touched on recent advancements in AI, such as AI-generated code and autonomous purchasing agents, underscoring the urgency of addressing these issues.
The Future of AI Governance
As AI continues to advance, the conversation highlights the need for new paradigms in governance. Cowen's proposal, while speculative, opens the door to rethinking how society interacts with increasingly autonomous systems. The debate over AI-written laws and ethical considerations will likely shape the future of AI policy and regulation.
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Alex Thompson
AI Technology Editor
Senior technology editor specializing in AI and machine learning content creation for 8 years. Former technical editor at AI Magazine, now provides technical documentation and content strategy services for multiple AI companies. Excels at transforming complex AI technical concepts into accessible content.