NIST AI RMF
In the absence of a federal statute, the AI RMF is the closest thing to a US compliance baseline — several state laws grant affirmative defenses to companies aligned with it, effectively making a voluntary framework quasi-binding.
What it is
The voluntary US reference framework for AI risk management (Govern/Map/Measure/Manage), extended by a Generative AI Profile in 2024. Widely embedded in state laws (e.g., Colorado, Texas safe harbors reference it) and enterprise programs.
Who is affected
In the absence of a federal statute, the AI RMF is the closest thing to a US compliance baseline — several state laws grant affirmative defenses to companies aligned with it, effectively making a voluntary framework quasi-binding.
Key obligations
- Voluntary: risk governance structures, mapping, measurement and management of AI risks
- Referenced as a safe harbor / defense in Colorado and Texas AI statutes
Recent signals
US executive order targets state AI laws for preemption
EO 14365 creates a DOJ AI Litigation Task Force and funding levers against state AI regulation, setting up the defining federalism fight of US AI governance.
White House releases America's AI Action Plan
90+ actions across innovation, infrastructure and international leadership — including procurement rules for 'ideologically neutral' AI and full-stack export packages.
US enacts TAKE IT DOWN Act on deepfake intimate imagery
Rare bipartisan federal AI statute criminalizes non-consensual intimate deepfakes and mandates 48-hour platform takedowns.
US revokes 2023 AI executive order, pivots to AI dominance agenda
EO 14179 removes the safety-focused federal framework and directs the AI Action Plan, resetting US AI policy.
Related instruments
- USEO 14179Revoked the 2023 Biden AI executive order and reoriented federal AI policy toward removing regulatory barriers and securing US AI …
- USUS AI Action PlanA 90+ point federal strategy across three pillars — accelerating innovation, building AI infrastructure, and leading international…
- USEO 14365 (Preemption)Directs the DOJ to create an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge state AI laws, conditions certain federal funding on states not…
- USTAKE IT DOWN ActRare bipartisan federal AI statute criminalizing publication of non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes, …
- EUEU AI ActThe world's first comprehensive, risk-based AI law. It bans a set of unacceptable practices (social scoring, manipulative AI, most…