There is no single definition of artificial intelligence that governs every U.S. law, and there is no one comprehensive federal AI statute. A federal definition in 15 U.S.C. §9401(3) is an important reference point, but individual federal and state laws may define AI differently or regulate only a particular technology or use. The legal answer depends on the exact law, jurisdiction, covered people or organizations, and effective date.
What does “AI” mean in U.S. law?
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) puts the central issue plainly: “There is no single, widely agreed upon definition of AI.” Congress did enact a definition in the National AI Initiative Act of 2020, now codified at 15 U.S.C. §9401(3). It is commonly used as a federal statutory reference, not as a universal definition for every AI-related law.
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In that definition, AI is a machine-based system that, for human-defined objectives, can make predictions, recommendations, or decisions that influence real or virtual environments. The definition also describes systems that use machine and human inputs to perceive real or virtual environments, automate analysis into models, and use inference to formulate options for information or action.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe wording is broad, but its legal effect depends on where it appears. A statute may adopt this definition, modify it, define only a subset such as generative or high-risk AI, or use a definition limited to its own subject. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) collection of state definition examples illustrates that variation, including laws with no specified statutory definition. For a legal conclusion, consult the actual statute rather than relying on a general definition or a summary.
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Is there one federal AI law?
No. The federal framework is a collection of statutes, executive actions, agency activity, and sector-specific provisions—not a single general AI code. The CRS overview, dated June 4, 2025, found fewer than 30 enacted bills containing AI as of May 2025. It describes provisions addressing government AI programs, procurement, training, and particular sectors. None of the laws reviewed established broad regulatory authority over AI development or use, or broad prohibitions on AI use. Those are findings about the laws reviewed at that time, not a count or assessment of every later enactment.
Examples include the National AI Initiative Act of 2020 and the Advancing American AI Act, which addressed government guidance, acquisition, and inventories. Their existence does not mean that every AI developer or user is subject to one uniform federal set of requirements.
How do state AI laws differ?
States have taken varied approaches. Their laws may address a specific use, covered actor, or risk rather than regulate AI as a single category. When evaluating a state measure, distinguish an enacted law from a bill, resolution, study task force, or policy proposal; also check who it covers, what it requires, how it is enforced, and when it takes effect.
Legislative counts are snapshots, and different reports use different dates and counting methods:
| Source and date | Reported activity | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| CRS, reporting on late April 2025 | At least 48 states and Puerto Rico had introduced more than 1,000 bills containing “AI.” | The count included a wide range of measures, from resolutions and study task forces to substantive rules. |
| NCSL, July 10, 2025 | All 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C., introduced AI-related legislation in the 2025 session; 38 states adopted or enacted around 100 measures. | This is a later session summary with its own scope; it should not be combined with the CRS count as if the figures measured the same thing. |
For current tracking, NCSL says its AI legislation database covers all introduced bills from 2025 onward and is updated monthly. It is a tracking resource, not a substitute for the enacted statute or other primary legal materials.
How should executive orders and policy frameworks be understood?
An executive order can direct executive-branch action and express administration policy, but it is not automatically an act of Congress or a generally applicable statute. Likewise, a legislative framework released by the White House is a proposal unless a later primary congressional record confirms enactment.
Executive Order 14179
Issued January 23, 2025, Executive Order 14179 set administration policy and directed development of an action plan. For its purposes, it adopted the statutory AI definition at 15 U.S.C. §9401(3). Read Executive Order 14179.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallExecutive Order 14365 and the March 2026 framework
Executive Order 14365, issued December 11, 2025, directed a task force to challenge certain state laws, called for a Commerce Department evaluation, directed agencies to consider discretionary grants, and sought a legislative recommendation for a uniform framework. It also identified areas the proposed legislation should not seek to preempt, including otherwise lawful state laws concerning child safety, AI compute and data-center infrastructure subject to a stated qualification, and state-government procurement and use. These are executive-branch directions and policy positions; the order itself did not enact a federal preemption statute. Read Executive Order 14365.
On March 20, 2026, the White House released a national legislative framework addressing subjects including child safety, communities and infrastructure, intellectual property, and free speech. The release said the administration would work with Congress to turn the framework into legislation. Treat it as a proposal unless a later primary source establishes that Congress enacted it. Read the White House release.
Executive Order 14434 and the terminology change
Executive Order 14434, dated September 29, 2026, directs specified executive-branch communications outside statutory text to use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” in place of “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI.” It defines the new terms by reference to the existing statutory AI definition unless superseded. The order does not itself amend statutory language or replace the definition in 15 U.S.C. §9401(3). Read Executive Order 14434.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to check which AI rules apply
Start with the law, not the general label “AI legislation.” For a specific product, organization, or use, check these points in the relevant primary materials:
- Jurisdiction: Identify whether the measure is federal, state, territorial, or local, and where the conduct or covered entity falls within its reach.
- Legal status: Confirm whether it is an enacted statute, regulation, executive order, proposed bill, or policy framework. Do not treat introduction or an announcement as enactment.
- Definition and coverage: Read the law’s definition and determine whether it covers AI generally, generative AI, high-risk systems, a named technology, or a particular use.
- Covered actors and obligations: Check whether the rules apply to developers, deployers, agencies, employers, health providers, platforms, or another category, and identify any duties such as disclosure, risk management, testing, or recordkeeping.
- Enforcement and timing: Verify the enforcement mechanism, effective date, amendments, delayed implementation, litigation, and subsequent federal or state action.
Because bills and laws can change, verify a specific compliance question against current statutory text and relevant regulator or court materials. NCSL’s database is useful for locating state measures, but the primary law controls.
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