AI Agents
Autonomous systems capable of interpreting information, making decisions, and carrying out actions to achieve specific goals.
How the laws define this
Regulatory frameworks uniformly identify AI agents as autonomous or intelligent entities designed to make decisions, carry out actions, and automate workflows to achieve specific goals. However, these instruments diverge significantly regarding scope and target domain. On one hand, AI Agents in Action: Foundations for Evaluation and Governance and 人工智能 智能体互联 (GB/Z 185-2026) frame AI agents through broad operational traits, emphasizing generalized capabilities to perceive environments, interpret information, operate without continuous human intervention, and interact with other systems. On the other hand, Executive Order 14363 — Launching the Genesis Mission narrows the concept exclusively to scientific research, defining agents as specialized tools built within the Genesis Mission framework to explore design spaces, test novel hypotheses, and accelerate scientific discovery by leveraging scientific foundation models and integrated datasets.
Synthesised from the 4 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.
How jurisdictions differ
What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first. Showing 3 of the 4 instruments that define this term; all are listed under Definitions below.
| Jurisdiction | Instrument | Status | What is distinctive |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Executive Order 14363 — Launching the Genesis Mission | In Force | Limits AI agents to those enhancing scientific research by exploring design spaces, automating experimental workflows, testing hypotheses, and generating insights. |
| China | Artificial Intelligence - Agent Interconnection (GB/Z 185-2026) | In Force | Adds capability for perceiving environments and interacting with other agents or systems. |
| World Economic Forum | AI Agents in Action: Foundations for Evaluation and Governance | In Force | Adds operation without continuous human intervention. |
Definitions (4)
Autonomous systems capable of interpreting information, making decisions, and carrying out actions to achieve specific goals, often without continuous human intervention.
AI agents, within the context of the Genesis Mission, are intelligent systems designed to enhance scientific research. They can explore vast design spaces, automate complex experimental workflows, test novel hypotheses, and generate new insights, thereby significantly accelerating the pace of scientific discovery.
Artificial intelligence entities developed within the Genesis Mission framework to test new hypotheses, automate research workflows, and accelerate scientific breakthroughs by leveraging scientific foundation models and integrated datasets.
An autonomous entity capable of perceiving its environment, making decisions, and taking actions to achieve specific goals, often interacting with other agents or systems.
Questions and answers
What are AI agents under the US Genesis Mission?
AI agents are intelligent systems designed to enhance scientific research by exploring vast design spaces, automating complex experimental workflows, testing novel hypotheses, and generating new insights. They are part of Executive Order 14363 establishing the Genesis Mission. This applies specifically to federal scientific research facilities.
How does China define AI agents for interconnection standards?
China defines AI agents as autonomous entities capable of perceiving their environment, making decisions, taking actions to achieve goals, and often interacting with other agents or systems. This is outlined in the non-binding standard GB/Z 185-2026.
What is distinctive about the WEF's definition of AI agents?
The WEF defines AI agents as autonomous systems capable of interpreting information, making decisions, carrying out actions to achieve goals, often without continuous human intervention. Their framework provides a non-binding foundation for evaluation, management, and governance.