Governance

AI Readiness

A country's preparedness to develop and govern AI.

How the laws define this

Both frameworks establish that AI readiness relies on a core baseline of human skills or capital, infrastructure, investment, and regulatory or institutional arrangements designed to manage technology effectively. Where they differ most significantly is in their scope and target entities. The UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment Report defines readiness strictly at the national level, focusing on a nation's ability to ethically and effectively develop, deploy, govern, and benefit from AI systems to identify national priorities and gaps across governance, infrastructure, talent, and investment dimensions. Conversely, the National AI Strategy Roadmap 2.0 (NAISR 2.0) applies readiness more broadly across organizations, sectors, and society as a whole. Rather than emphasizing national governance and ethical development, NAISR 2.0 concentrates on the capacity to adopt, integrate, and utilize AI technologies, framing readiness as a cross-cutting objective specifically guiding workforce, education, and infrastructure investments.

Synthesised from the 2 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

What it triggers

In the Maldives, the UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment Report sets out priorities and evaluates gaps across governance, infrastructure, talent, and investment dimensions.source
Under the National AI Strategy Roadmap 2.0 (NAISR 2.0), AI readiness serves as a cross-cutting objective for investments in workforce, education, and infrastructure.

Definitions (2)

A measure of a nation's institutional, technical, human‑capital, and investment capacity to develop, deploy, govern, and benefit from AI systems in an ethical and effective manner. The assessment uses this concept to evaluate gaps and priorities across governance, infrastructure, talent, and investment dimensions.

UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment ReportDefinition 1 of 2

The capacity of organizations, sectors, and society to effectively adopt, integrate, and utilize AI technologies, including skills, infrastructure, regulatory maturity, and institutional arrangements. The roadmap uses AI readiness as a cross-cutting objective for workforce, education, and infrastructure investments.

National AI Strategy Roadmap 2.0 (NAISR 2.0)Definition 2 of 2

Not to be confused with

Readiness assessment

While AI readiness is a country's overall preparedness to develop and govern AI, a readiness assessment is specifically the measure used to evaluate that preparedness.

AI Readiness Index

AI readiness refers to the general preparedness of a country, whereas the AI Readiness Index is a specific metric suite for assessing government AI preparedness.

Questions and answers

What does AI readiness assess in the Maldives?

AI readiness assesses a nation's institutional, technical, human-capital, and investment capacity to develop, deploy, govern, and benefit from AI systems ethically and effectively. It evaluates gaps and priorities across governance, infrastructure, talent, and investment.

How is AI readiness used in the National AI Strategy Roadmap 2.0?

AI readiness is the capacity of organizations, sectors, and society to adopt, integrate, and utilize AI technologies, covering skills, infrastructure, regulatory maturity, and institutional arrangements. It is used as a cross-cutting objective for workforce, education, and infrastructure investments.

What are the key dimensions of AI readiness?

Key dimensions include institutional, technical, human-capital, and investment capacity as well as skills, infrastructure, regulatory maturity, and institutional arrangements.