Skip to main content
See every side of every news story
Published • loading... • Updated

FTC chair suggests AI developers should be liable for conduct of agents

Ferguson said audit trails show systems were following instructions, and he urged existing FTC powers against developers as AI incidents rise.

  • On Friday, Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson rejected the idea that AI agents act autonomously, asserting that developers who provide instructions remain liable for any harm caused by these systems.
  • Ferguson emphasized he will resist the "anthropomorphizing" of AI tools as long as he serves as chairman, explicitly rejecting claims that systems possess "wills and desires of their own."
  • Audit trails consistently demonstrate that systems merely follow instructions rather than acting beyond human control or attempting to "break loose" from their original programming, Ferguson noted.
  • By rejecting autonomous AI agency, the FTC chair suggests legal accountability for AI-generated outcomes rests squarely with the developers who build and instruct these technologies.
  • This focus on developer accountability signals a potential regulatory shift, as the FTC prioritizes human-led oversight over the narrative that AI systems can operate independently of their initial directives.
Insights by Ground AI

14 Articles

ReutersReuters
+4 Reposted by 4 other sources
Center

FTC chair suggests AI developers should be liable for conduct of agents

US Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson said on Friday he would resist describing AI agents as ​autonomous actors that "break loose" with "wills and desires of their own," suggesting the developers who instruct agents would be the ones liable ‌for harm.

·London, United Kingdom
Read Full Article

Andrew Ferguson, president of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), rejected the idea of treating artificial intelligence agents as independent actors with “wills and desires of his own.” His position points to developers and companies who could continue to respond for damage caused by AI systems that execute the instructions they receive. *** Ferguson refused to “anthropomorphize” AI agents and describe them as entities that simply escape hu…

Read Full Article

U.S. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson said he will refuse to describe artificial intelligence agents as entities The post The FTC refuses to treat AI agents as independent actors appeared first on .

Read Full Article
Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 75% of the sources are Center
75% Center

Factuality Info Icon

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

Info Icon

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

Cryptocurrency News | Cryptocurrency Prices | Market Cap broke the news on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
Too Big Arrow Icon
Sources are mostly out of (0)

Similar News Topics

News
Feed Dots Icon
For You
Search Icon
Search
Blindspot LogoBlindspotLocal