Report: U.S. Tops Government AI Readiness Index

The U.S. federal government is the most prepared among 160 nations to use artificial intelligence in the public services they provide, according to a report released this week by London-based consultancy Oxford Insights. The annual report, called the 2021 Government AI Readiness Index, rates countries based on 42 indicators--including software spending and industry investment in emerging technologies--across three pillars: government, technology sector, and data and infrastructure. Buoyed by the unrivaled maturity of its technology sector, the U.S. topped the rankings, followed by Singapore, which topped the government pillar due to its digital capacity. The United Kingdom, Finland and the Netherlands finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively. "Governments stand to gain from the vast applications of recent developments in AI," said Richard Stirling, CEO and co-founder of Oxford Insights. "Those governments who take a strategic approach to harnessing AI within government and promoting their national AI sector are likely to see the greatest benefits.