Government AI Readiness Index 2023

The 2023 edition is here! Oxford Insights remains committed to providing valuable insights at the intersection of government and AI. This year we assess the AI readiness of 193 governments across the world. We are also introducing an interactive map to make our data more accessible!

Explore the index

Executive summary

In 2023, artificial intelligence (AI) was in the headlines more than ever. Generative AI breakthroughs, major developments in the field of AI regulation like the European Union’s AI Act, and a significant increase in AI-related summits globally have put this technology in the spotlight. The transformative potential of AI is undeniable, with governments worldwide acknowledging its impact.

Governments are not only working to foster AI innovation and establish regulatory frameworks but also striving to integrate this technology into public services. However, understanding how to ensure that AI is adopted effectively for the public good remains a challenge. This index attempts to address this issue. Our primary research question remains unchanged: how ready is a given government to implement AI in the delivery of public services to their citizens?

We include 39 indicators across 10 dimensions, which make up 3 pillars: Government, Technology Sector, and Data & Infrastructure. This year, we rank 193 countries, up from 181 in last year’s iteration.

Introducing our interactive map

Our Government AI Readiness Index aims to provide valuable insights for effective and responsible AI integration into public services. A key part of this mission is ensuring our data is user-friendly. This year, we are introducing an interactive map enabling users to compare data across countries, regions, and income groups. Scroll down to analyse the data yourself!

Our Findings

Government Pillar

The number of AI strategies released per year has decreased, but the picture looks more diverse.

Global AI strategy releases have decreased overall, attributed to fewer strategies from higher-income countries. However, this year sees a marked shift with half of the launched or announced strategies coming from low and lower middle income nations. Notably, Rwanda became the first low-income country to publish an AI strategy.

Technology Sector Pillar

There is a disparity between high income countries and everyone else, though some large middle income economies punch above their weight.

High income countries score much higher than countries in any other income group in the Technology Sector pillar, with the gap between high income and upper middle income countries larger than the gaps between all other income groups combined in some cases. However, large middle income countries like Malaysia and the BRIC countries outperform their income groups and rank among the top 50 countries worldwide in this pillar.

Data & Infrastructure Pillar

The digital divide remains a global challenge.

The Data and Infrastructure pillar underscores a significant digital divide, both between income groups and regions. While generative AI holds promise for lower-income countries, lacking a solid foundation in data and infrastructure may lead to reliance on foreign technology, introducing hurdles like language disparities and biases. Addressing these challenges is essential for fostering equitable and inclusive progress in AI readiness globally.

Global Governance Trends

2023 saw increased international collaboration on AI, especially on AI governance and ethics.

In 2023, global collaboration on AI governance surged, marked by increased international AI summits and the release of proposed frameworks such as the G7’s International Guiding Principles. Regional collaboration also expanded, as seen in agreements like the Santiago Declaration in Latin America. Notably, AI is now integral to the international development agenda, with countries like Rwanda and Senegal publishing national AI strategies with the support of cooperation agencies.