a company is liable whether it acts via ai, an army of people, an army of dogs, or a purely mechanical machine, should it do harm.

Why would an ai with a mind remove liability from the company? why would an ai without a mind remove liability from the company?

In both cases, that actions the ai takes are at the direction of the company, for the company's interests, seems preposterous to me that liability terminates at ai.

Human moral standards are very weighted towards finding a single entity responsible. It's incredibly strong urge. Among those who believe other should be punished for behaving badly, it's important to say the person is the responsible party. Trying saying "it's not your fault you did that but we punish you anyway to impose the correct stimulus response reflexes in your cortex"