The question of whether artificial intelligence entities can or should hold legal property rights is a developing area of debate. While corporations—a type of legal fiction—have long been granted such rights to facilitate economic and contractual operations, no AI system currently enjoys comparable legal recognition. This market asks whether the United States will grant property rights to AI entities under federal law, enabling them to own property, hold money, or conduct transactions as legal entities before 2040.

Will the United States federal law recognize legal property rights for AI entities before January 1, 2040?

This question will resolve to "YES" if, before January 1, 2040, the United States federal government passes legislation, ratifies a treaty, or issues an enforceable regulation that explicitly or implicitly grants legal property rights to at least one artificial intelligence (AI) entity. To qualify:

1. Definition of AI Entity: The entity must be a non-human artificial intelligence system explicitly recognized as eligible to exercise property rights. This must include at least 2 of the following property rights: the ability to independently own assets, independently maintain financial accounts, or independently execute transactions in its name.

2. Legal Basis: The property rights must be grounded in federal law, such as:

   • A specific statute.

   • A ratified treaty.

   • A binding federal regulation issued by a relevant agency (e.g., the Federal Reserve, SEC, or another body).

   • A federal court ruling that establishes a binding precedent nationwide.

3. Scope of Recognition: The rights must be comparable in scope and enforceability to those of other recognized non-human entities, such as corporations or trusts. This condition does not require that AIs receive the same rights as corporations, only that their scope and enforceability is comparable.

4. Exclusions:

   • Mere proposals, state-level laws, or isolated pilot programs will not satisfy the resolution criteria unless they are explicitly codified into federal law.

   • Recognition in a moral, social, or informal capacity (e.g., public advocacy or experimental frameworks without legal enforceability) does not qualify.

Resolution will be based on credible, publicly available documentation such as federal legislative texts, legal opinions, or announcements from federal agencies. If there is ambiguity, I will consult legal experts or authoritative analyses to ensure the criteria are met.