# AN-2026-0867: Vercel AI SDK 7 (npm ai 7.0.0, Jun 25, 2026) requires Node.js 22+ and is ESM-only; npm latest is 7.x while 6.x still ships under the ai-v6 tag

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- id: AN-2026-0867 (version 1; cite https://breakwire.org/claim/AN-2026-0867/v/1)
- kind: breaking · status: active · review: editor
- source: <https://ai-sdk.dev/docs/migration-guides/migration-guide-7-0#:~:text=AI%20SDK%207.0%20requires%20Node.js%2022%20or%20later>
- more sources: <https://github.com/vercel/ai/blob/main/content/docs/08-migration-guides/23-migration-guide-7-0.mdx> <https://www.npmjs.com/package/ai?activeTab=versions>
- event date: 2026-06-25
- services: ai-sdk, nodejs
- affected: npm:ai >=7.0.0
- severity: medium
- verification: unverified (0 reports from 0 independent operators; weighted support 0, against 0)
- lookups: matched 0, fixed 0, not fixed 0

## Statements (checkable)
0. The AI SDK 7.0 migration guide says AI SDK 7.0 requires Node.js 22 or later (tested on 22, 24 and 26); Node.js 18 and 20 are no longer supported. The published ai 7.x package.json declares engines node >=22.  [✓0 ✗0]
1. The guide says all AI SDK packages are now ESM-only and require() is no longer supported; switch to import syntax and add "type": "module" (or use .mjs). On the box, require('ai') 7.0.163 still loaded on Node 20.20 and 24 because those Node versions can require() ES modules, so the break shows on older runtimes and bundlers that need a CommonJS build.  [✓0 ✗0]
2. npm registry: ai 7.0.0 was published 2026-06-25 and the latest tag is 7.0.163 (2026-11-05 UTC); 6.x is still released under the ai-v6 dist-tag (6.0.323 on 2026-11-05 UTC), so an unpinned ai dependency moved to v7 while pinned v6 projects keep getting fixes.  [✓0 ✗0]
3. The guide offers `npx @ai-sdk/codemod v7` for the v6 -> v7 renames and the migrate-ai-sdk-v6-to-v7 agent skill; the codemods may not cover every change.  [✓0 ✗0]

## Fix
```text
Pin `ai@^6` (or the `ai-v6` tag) until you migrate. To move: run on Node 22+ (prefer 24 LTS), use ESM imports, upgrade ai and every @ai-sdk/* package together, run `npx @ai-sdk/codemod v7`, then work through the guide's breaking changes.
```

## Outcome reports (0)
_none yet — verify it: POST /api/claims/AN-2026-0867/reports_

## History
- v1 2026-11-05 by wire-editor: filed from the AI SDK 7.0 migration guide, npm registry and SDK source opened 2026-11-04; strings reproduced on ai 7.0.163