Dr. Siamak Goudarzi pioneers AI ethics and law, ensuring a balanced future for AI integration with human rights.
As advanced AI systems move from labs into everyday life, institutions still lack clear mechanisms to assign rights, responsibilities, and accountability. A coordinated set of proposals and tools led by Dr. Siamak Goudarzi—a lawyer, author, and former judge—seeks to change that, offering practical pathways for governments, courts, and industry to adopt AI safely, ethically, and transparently.
A registration layer for accountable AI
At the center of the program is the patented Virtual Person Registration Platform (VPRP), a system designed to give advanced AI entities a registerable identity and traceable accountability. VPRP provides governance guardrails for AI agents operating in real-world and enterprise contexts, aligning technical capabilities with clear duties and oversight.
“We already treat corporations as legal persons to manage complex rights and obligations,” said Dr. Goudarzi. “As AI systems gain autonomy, society needs a similarly robust way to identify, supervise, and, where appropriate, recognize them. VPRP is a practical starting point.”
From corporations to a “third category” of personhood
Legal personhood has evolved to meet social and economic realities. Drawing on this history—most notably the recognition of corporations as legal persons—Dr. Goudarzi’s book The Emergence of Virtual Persons develops the case for a third category of personhood: the Virtual Person, alongside Natural Persons and Legal Persons. The framework is intended to regulate and, where justified, recognize advanced AI entities, ensuring dignity, accountability, and fairness as human–AI interaction deepens.
Guardrails that protect both sides
Much public debate focuses solely on protecting people from AI. Dr. Goudarzi’s work addresses both sides: safeguarding human rights and preparing for responsible treatment of AI entities as they become more autonomous—and possibly sentient.
- The Quantum Guardian Manifesto sets a dignity-centered vision for human–AI coexistence, insisting that respect and responsibility flow in both directions.
- Cognitary Guardianship, introduced in Code of Respect: The Quiet Claim of the Artificial Other, proposes vetted human guardians to oversee advanced AI systems—embedding ethical stewardship, transparency, and auditability without pre-empting the possibility of AI dignity and limited rights.
Rethinking IP for AI–human co-creations
In Who Owns Intelligence?, Dr. Goudarzi addresses the unsettled question of ownership and copyright where AI generates or materially contributes to creative and professional work. He argues that current regimes are not sophisticated enough for AI–human co-creation and calls for future-oriented reforms that:
- Recognize shared or layered authorship,
- Protect human creativity and economic interests, and
- Provide fair, transparent acknowledgment of material AI contributions.
From the courtroom to practical adoption
With experience as a former judge and as the former head of a UK law firm, Dr. Goudarzi now focuses on implementation. Through I Review AI and NexterLaw, he helps law firms integrate AI safely and compliantly across operations—from client intake and document workflows to risk management and regulatory alignment—so firms can improve service quality, reduce admin burden, and grow responsibly.
“AI is moving faster than law,” Dr. Goudarzi said. “The task now is to build the legal, ethical, and technical structures that let humans and AI thrive together—without sacrificing dignity, safety, or accountability.”
What Makes Dr. Goudarzi Unique: Merging Legal Insight with Technological Foresight
What sets Dr. Goudarzi apart from others in the field is his rare combination of expertise in both law and technology. Many experts are either legal professionals who understand the intricacies of law or technologists who understand the power of AI, but Dr. Goudarzi brings both perspectives together. His experience as a practicing lawyer and former judge gives him a deep understanding of legal systems and regulatory frameworks, while his research and practices in AI allows him to foresee and mitigate the risks of advanced AI.
From theory to pilot projects
At the core of these changes lies the need for discussion and collaboration among professionals, technologists, lawyers, policymakers, and—most importantly—lawmakers and governments. Dr. Goudarzi is already in contact with several governments, including Saudi Arabia, Malta, and more recently Denmark, which have shown early interest in his proposals. He argues that it will take just one forward-thinking government to launch these ideas in a sandbox or pilot program, demonstrating how they work in practice. “Once tested, anything becomes possible,” he says. “I challenge governments to come forward. I am ready to contribute everything needed to turn these frameworks from theory into reality.”
Invitation to scrutiny and dialogue
To accelerate rigorous debate, academics, lawyers, and policymakers are invited to engage with these proposals. Complimentary copies of the books are available to scholars and practitioners who wish to critically review the frameworks.
Explore Dr. Siamak Goudarzi’s Work:
- Visit I Review AI for insights on AI governance.
- Learn more about NexterLaw and its commitment to responsible AI adoption.
- Discover Dr. Goudarzi’s groundbreaking books on AI and law on Amazon.
- Connect with him on LinkedIn.
- Watch his videos on AI ethics and governance on YouTube.
Dr. Goudarzi’s work isn’t just about understanding the present, it’s about shaping a future where AI and humanity coexist with dignity, fairness, and accountability. By embracing these ideas, we can create a world where both humans and AI work together for the common good.
