A controversial bid to deter states from regulating artificial intelligence for a decade seemed on its way to passing as the Republican tax cut and spending bill championed by President Donald

U .S. Sen. Ted Cruz's plan to block states from creating regulations to limit the potential harm caused by artificial intelligence technology was dropped from the Senate's sprawling budget bill early Tuesday.

States will be able to enact AI legislation again - but a federal plan remains unclear, and the clock is ticking.