Tortoise Intelligence recently released the Artificial Intelligence Index Report for the year 2023, which is one of the global rankings of artificial intelligence that includes more than 60 countries. In this article, we will review the main topics that this report focuses on and the ranking of Arab countries according to its findings.

The Artificial Intelligence Index (AI)

AI index relies on 111 indicators collected from 28 different sources of public and private data, covering 62 countries. These indicators are categorized within seven core pillars, which are as follows:

1. Government Strategy: This indicator measures the depth of governmental commitment to national artificial intelligence strategies and the extent of their commitment in terms of expenditure and implementation.
2. Research: This measure encompasses specialized research output in artificial intelligence, including the number of publications and citations in reputable academic journals.
3. Development: This pillar focuses on the level of development of foundational platforms and algorithms relied upon by innovative artificial intelligence projects.
4. Competence (Talent): This measure emphasizes the availability of talents and skills among practitioners engaged in artificial intelligence solutions.
5. Infrastructure: This pillar evaluates the availability of infrastructure related to artificial intelligence activities, including electricity, internet access, automation, and more.
6. Operational Environment: This measure focuses on the regulatory context and public perception of artificial intelligence.
7. Trade: This measure concentrates on business activities, including the activities of startups, investments, and artificial intelligence-based commercial initiatives.

These pillars provide a comprehensive framework for assessing the position of countries in the field of artificial intelligence.

Ranking of Arab countries on the Artificial Intelligence Index

The United States of America ranked first on the Artificial Intelligence Index, followed by China in second place, and then Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Canada. As for the Arab countries, the table below illustrates their ranking on both the global and Arab levels.

As can be seen, with the exception of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which secured average global rankings, other Arab countries rank lower on the global scale. It is worth noting from the table that there is a common weakness among all Arab countries included in the index, which is the talent pool working in artificial intelligence activities. If we consider the average ranking of Arab countries in this index, their combined position is approximately 48, indicating an educational and professional gap in the Arab world in this field. Additionally, significant lag can be observed for Arab countries in terms of operational environment, development and trade indicators.

On the other hand, there is significant variation among Arab countries in terms of operational environment, government strategy, and research indicators. In terms of government strategy, Saudi Arabia not only outperforms on the Arab level but also takes the global lead. This is attributed to the presence of a dedicated and approved national strategy for artificial intelligence, a government entity specifically focused on developing implementation plans for artificial intelligence in the country, providing funding and a dedicated budget, and monitoring the achievement of set goals. Since 2018, the Kingdom has shown interest in the field of artificial intelligence by establishing the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority "SDAIA" as the national reference for the development, regulation, and utilization of artificial intelligence.

Likewise, the United Arab Emirates holds a relatively advanced position (rank 20) in terms of having a national strategy for artificial intelligence and its commitment to implementation. However, the most notable strength of the UAE in this field lies in its infrastructure, where it ranks fourth globally. Qatar also stands out in terms of research indicators, securing a relatively advanced position (rank 17), with a 17-place difference from the UAE on the same index.

For more information about the Artificial Intelligence Index Report, please visit the Tortoise Intelligence website by clicking here.