OpenAI Proposes State-Level Laws as Foundation for National AI Safety Framework

OpenAI has published a proposal advocating for a 'reverse federalism' approach, where state-level laws inform the development of a national AI safety framework.

This article was drafted with AI assistance from multiple sources and was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication.

OpenAI has put forward a new governance model for artificial intelligence, suggesting that state-level legislation should serve as the building blocks for a nationwide regulatory framework. The company outlined the approach in an article published today, July 15, 2026.

The proposal, which OpenAI describes as 'reverse federalism,' envisions states experimenting with their own AI laws, and the most effective measures then being incorporated into a national standard. This bottom-up strategy aims to create a safe and democratic AI ecosystem, according to the company.

OpenAI argues that this method allows for diverse regulatory approaches to be tested at the local level before scaling up, potentially avoiding the pitfalls of a one-size-fits-all federal mandate. The company says the goal is to ensure that AI development proceeds in a manner that is both safe and aligned with democratic values.