General

Digital Economy

Economic activities enabled by digital technologies.

How the laws define this

Regulators agree that the digital economy consists of economic activities, commercial transactions, and sector transformations enabled or enhanced by digital technologies. However, these instruments diverge significantly on the central role of artificial intelligence and geographic scope. The Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence Technologies until 2030 and the Chương trình “Nghiên cứu và phát triển ứng dụng trí tuệ nhân tạo (AI) tại Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh giai đoạn 2020-2030” specifically focus on AI as an integral driver or core element that powers public services, private sectors, or the Gross Regional Domestic Product of Ho Chi Minh City. In contrast, the South Australia Appointment of Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy 2026 defines the concept much more broadly as a global network underpinned by information and communication technologies and the internet. Rather than limiting the scope to localized AI-driven goals, the South Australia text emphasizes a pervasive layer involving e-commerce, digital skills, infrastructure, and digital inclusion across all modern economic activity.

Synthesised from the 3 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

How jurisdictions differ

What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first.

Jurisdiction	Instrument	Status	What is distinctive
Australia	AI in Australia's interests	In Force	Expands to a global network including e-commerce, digital services, data-driven industries, platform economies, digital transformation, and emphasizes interconnectedness of infrastructure, skills, innovation, and inclusion.
Uzbekistan	Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence Technologies until 2030	In Force	Adds AI-driven automation, services, and platforms as specific enhancements, framing AI as core to Uzbekistan's Digital Uzbekistan 2030 initiative for public and private sector transformation.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam	Program for Research and Development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications in Ho Chi Minh City for the period 2020-2030	In Force	Narrowly ties the digital economy to AI's role in driving innovation, productivity, new business models, and contributions to Ho Chi Minh City's Gross Regional Domestic Product.

Definitions (3)

Digital Economy encompasses economic activities enabled or enhanced by digital technologies, including AI-driven automation, services, and platforms. The strategy frames AI development as a core element of Uzbekistan's broader Digital Uzbekistan 2030 initiative to transform public services and the private sector.

Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence Technologies until 2030Definition 1 of 3

An economy where digital technologies, especially AI, are integral to economic activities, driving innovation, productivity, and new business models, contributing to the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of Ho Chi Minh City.

Chương trình “Nghiên cứu và phát triển ứng dụng trí tuệ nhân tạo (AI) tại Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh giai đoạn 2020-2030”Definition 2 of 3

The global network of economic activities, commercial transactions, and professional interactions that are enabled by information and communication technologies (ICTs), particularly the internet. This includes e-commerce, digital services, data-driven industries, platform economies, and the digital transformation of traditional sectors. The definition emphasizes the interconnectedness of digital infrastructure, digital skills, digital innovation, and digital inclusion as integral components of a thriving digital economy. It recognizes that the digital economy is not a separate sector but rather an pervasive layer that unfderpins and transforms all aspects of modern economic activity.

South Australia Appointment of Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy 2026Definition 3 of 3

Not to be confused with

data economy

Data economy focuses on reuse and sharing of high-quality data with privacy safeguards, while digital economy covers broader activities enabled by digital technologies including AI.

Digitalization

Digitalization refers to the adoption and integration of digital technologies across sectors, whereas digital economy encompasses the economic activities those technologies enable.

Questions and answers

What components make up the digital economy in Australia's AI policy?

It includes e-commerce, digital services, data-driven industries, platform economies, and digital transformation of traditional sectors. The definition stresses interconnectedness of digital infrastructure, skills, innovation, and inclusion. It views the digital economy as integrated rather than separate.

How does Uzbekistan link digital economy to AI development?

Digital economy encompasses activities enabled or enhanced by digital technologies including AI-driven automation, services, and platforms. AI is framed as a core element of the Digital Uzbekistan 2030 initiative.

In what way does Ho Chi Minh City's AI program define digital economy?

It is an economy where digital technologies, especially AI, drive innovation, productivity, new business models, and contribute to the city's GRDP.