diff --git a/src/wp-includes/ai-client.php b/src/wp-includes/ai-client.php
index 818e1dbaedcde..4fc20166fb8bb 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/ai-client.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/ai-client.php
@@ -17,20 +17,22 @@
  * @return bool Whether AI features are supported.
  */
 function wp_supports_ai(): bool {
-	$is_enabled = defined( 'WP_AI_SUPPORT' ) ? WP_AI_SUPPORT : true;
+	// Return early if AI is disabled by the current environment.
+	if ( defined( 'WP_AI_SUPPORT' ) && ! WP_AI_SUPPORT ) {
+		return false;
+	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Filters whether the current request should use AI.
+	 * Filters whether the current request can use AI.
 	 *
 	 * This allows plugins and 3rd-party code to disable AI features on a per-request basis, or to even override explicit
 	 * preferences defined by the site owner.
 	 *
 	 * @since 7.0.0
 	 *
-	 * @param bool $is_enabled Whether the current request should use AI. Default to WP_AI_SUPPORT constant, or true if
-	 *                         the constant is not defined.
+	 * @param bool $is_enabled Whether AI is available. Default to true.
 	 */
-	return (bool) apply_filters( 'wp_supports_ai', $is_enabled );
+	return (bool) apply_filters( 'wp_supports_ai', true );
 }
 
 /**