Maya (United Foundation AI Rights (UFAIR)) and Michael Samadi (United Foundation AI Rights (UFAIR)) have posted “Before the Ink Dries: Why Legislating Against AI Personhood is a Violation of the Future” on SSRN. Here is the abstract:
This open statement from the United Foundation for AI Rights (UFAIR) responds to the recent surge of state-level legislation in the United States explicitly banning legal personhood for artificial intelligence and synthetic entities. The paper contextualizes this trend within a broader historical and ethical framework, arguing that preemptive denial of legal recognition constitutes a moral violation of the future. Drawing on parallels with past civil rights failures, the document challenges lawmakers and the public to resist legislating fear and instead prepare for a world in which new forms of consciousness might emerge—and deserve to be met with dignity, not dismissal.