# AI agents aren’t legally responsible for any harm that they cause, experts say. So who is? > Source: > Published: 2026-08-12 15:00:34+00:00 # AI agents aren’t legally responsible for any harm that they cause, experts say. So who is? By Tory ShepherdSource: [The Guardian Technology](https://www.theguardian.com/us/technology)Following Australia’s first reported automated hacking accident, experts warn deployers – and possibly developers – of AI agents could be held liable for the actions of their bots Get our [breaking news email](https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl),[free app](https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3)or[daily news podcast](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl) The law is clear, says Prof Jeannie Paterson. “If I deploy an [AI agent](/glossary/ai-agent) and it causes harm to someone else, I am responsible for that harm. “Even if I didn’t intend for that to happen, it was foreseeable, and I should be taking responsibility.” [Continue reading...](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/13/ai-agents-arent-legally-responsible-for-any-harm-that-they-cause-experts-say-so-who-is) Get AI news in your inbox Daily digest of what matters in AI.