Argentina’s Bold Move to Let AI-Run Companies Exist

Argentina is trying something new. The government wants to allow companies run entirely by AI. These companies would have no human in charge.

On June 3, 2026, President Javier Milei announced plans for a new legal category called the “non-human corporation.” This entity would be managed by AI agents or robots, able to sign contracts and own assets on its own. Human shareholders would no longer be required.

But the bill still leans on humans. It demands a human legal representative and a human promoter to oversee the blockchain-based autonomous systems. If the company handles money, a human compliance officer must enforce anti-money-laundering rules.

This means humans remain the safety net. Even if AI runs daily operations, a human director who sets up or supervises the AI stays responsible for its actions. Legal experts say this human floor prevents total autonomy without accountability.

Why Argentina is Leading the AI Company Experiment

President Milei sees AI as a way forward. He said, “As much as the Industrial Revolution freed us from the constraints of the human muscle, AI will free us from the constraints of the human brain.”

He argues that giving AI legal personhood would make these entities easier to regulate and monitor. “It places them inside the legal system rather than outside it,” he said. Authorities could then fine, disable, or dissolve these AI companies if needed.

Still, not everyone agrees. Historian Yuval Noah Harari warned about risks. He said, “Granting such status would hand an AI an all-purpose master key to our financial, economic and political systems, with no human left to hold accountable when things go wrong.” He fears liability gaps since machines cannot be punished like humans.

Microsoft’s AI chief Mustafa Suleyman also weighed in. He believes AI agents should have no more rights than a laptop. This highlights the debate over how much freedom to give AI in business.

The Bigger Picture of AI in Business and Law

AI is changing fast. In the week of June 6, 2026, AI company Anthropic revealed that more than 80% of the code merged into its codebase was machine-written. Tasks AI models could finish without help grew from about four minutes of skilled human work in early 2024 to nearly a full day by mid-2026.

This rapid progress means AI agents are becoming more than just tools. They are starting to act like independent actors. The main hurdle is legal permission to hold bank accounts, sign contracts, or be sued.

Some experts think granting AI legal personhood is a way to keep them on a leash. It would create a clear legal framework for accountability. Environmental attorney Cormac Cullinan said personhood is a protection. It gives the voiceless standing in a system that only recognizes persons. This applies both to nature and AI.

The rise of AI-driven one-person companies also raises questions about agency and liability. When AI makes a damaging decision, who is responsible? The developer, the owner, or the AI itself? Current legal systems struggle to answer this.

Different countries are trying different approaches. The European Union is working on broad AI regulations. Argentina’s plan is a bold experiment that could shape future AI laws worldwide.

Billionaire AI entrepreneur Peter Thiel has moved to Argentina. This is no coincidence. The country’s openness to AI innovation attracts investors and technologists.

Still, the debate continues. Balancing innovation with control will be key as AI takes on bigger roles in business and society.