The International Monetary Fund (IMF) today released its latest AI Preparedness Index, highlighting that a large number of countries-particularly in the Global South, including several across Africa-still lack the foundational infrastructure needed to sustainably adopt and benefit from artificial intelligence technologies.
According to the IMF index, which assesses readiness across four key pillars-digital infrastructure, human capital and labour policies, innovation and economic integration, and regulation and ethics-emerging market and low‑income countries lag significantly behind advanced economies. Advanced economies scored an average of 0.68 on the index, compared with 0.46 for emerging markets and just 0.32 for low‑income nations.
IMF researchers warned that countries without robust connectivity, affordable broadband, skilled workforces, and regulatory frameworks risk being unable to harness the potential benefits of AI, including improved productivity and economic growth.
“Most Global South countries are still building AI castles on digital sand,” the index report states, underscoring that enthusiasm for AI solutions must be matched by investments in basic infrastructure if the technology is to deliver meaningful and equitable progress.
The report also noted that gaps in digital access, training, and governance systems could deepen existing inequalities, leaving less prepared nations further behind as AI adoption accelerates globally.
Analysts say the index should serve as a wake‑up call for policymakers to prioritise investment in broadband, education, and regulatory capacity as part of broader AI strategies.
Full IMF AI Preparedness Index report:
https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/datasets/AIPI
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