AI governance glossary
AI system
Definition
A machine-based system that operates with some autonomy, may adapt after it is deployed, and infers from the input it receives how to generate outputs such as predictions, content, recommendations or decisions that can influence physical or virtual environments. This is the EU AI Act's definition, which follows the OECD's; whether software is an "AI system" decides whether the Act applies to it at all.
Source: EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689). A plain-language explanation for orientation, not the legal text; follow the source for the binding wording.
EU AI Act →AI system inventory control →
Laws and policies on record that use it
- Colorado ADMT law (SB 26-189)Colorado (United States) · Adopted
- Law on Artificial Intelligence (2025)Kazakhstan · Adopted
- Law No. 132/2025 on artificial intelligenceItaly · In force
- Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA)Texas (United States) · In force
- EU AI ActEuropean Union · Partially applicable
- Framework Convention on AI (CETS 225)Council of Europe · Adopted
- Colorado AI ActColorado (United States) · Repealed
- India DPDP ActIndia · Partially applicable
Duties that mention it
- Provide contestability, supply-chain transparency and records (guardrails 7 to 9)Australian Voluntary AI Safety Standard · Australia
- Ensure AI literacy of staff operating AI systemsEU AI Act · European Union
- Establish a risk management system for high-risk AIEU AI Act · European Union
- Apply data governance and quality criteria to training, validation and testing dataEU AI Act · European Union
- Design high-risk systems to log events automaticallyEU AI Act · European Union
- Provide deployers with clear instructions for useEU AI Act · European Union
- Achieve appropriate accuracy, robustness and cybersecurityEU AI Act · European Union
- Operate a quality management systemEU AI Act · European Union
Related terms
- Red teaming (AI)Structured adversarial testing in which testers try to make an AI system fail: produce harmful output, leak da...
- General-purpose AI model (GPAI)An AI model, typically trained on a large amount of data with self-supervision at scale, that shows significan...
- High-risk AI systemIn the EU AI Act, an AI system that is a safety component of (or is itself) a product covered by the EU produc...
- Intended purposeThe use a provider intends an AI system for, including the context and conditions of use, as stated in its ins...
- Substantial modificationA change to an AI system after it is placed on the market that the provider's original conformity assessment d...
- Conformity assessmentThe process of showing that a high-risk AI system meets the EU AI Act's requirements before it is placed on th...
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Frequently asked questions
What does "AI system" mean?
A machine-based system that operates with some autonomy, may adapt after it is deployed, and infers from the input it receives how to generate outputs such as predictions, content, recommendations or decisions that can influence physical or virtual environments. This is the EU AI Act's definition, which follows the OECD's; whether software is an "AI system" decides whether the Act applies to it at all.
Where does the term AI system come from?
This explanation follows EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689). It is a plain-language paraphrase for orientation; the source has the binding wording.
Which laws and policies use the term AI system?
Among the records on this site: Colorado ADMT law (SB 26-189) (Colorado); Law on Artificial Intelligence (2025) (Kazakhstan); Law No. 132/2025 on artificial intelligence (Italy); Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA) (Texas) and EU AI Act (EU).