TLDR: The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) has launched its AI-REAL (AI Readiness to Empowerment, Adoption, and Leadership) Toolkit, a comprehensive framework designed to help governments worldwide assess their AI capabilities and guide the ethical, inclusive, and sustainable integration of AI into public and private sectors. The toolkit, introduced at the G20 Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence Ministers’ Meeting, provides a structured approach to developing national AI strategies, fostering innovation, and ensuring responsible AI governance.
RIYADH, October 3, 2025 – The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) today announced the launch of its groundbreaking AI-REAL (AI Readiness to Empowerment, Adoption, and Leadership) Toolkit. Unveiled at the prestigious G20 Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence Ministers’ Meeting, this initiative marks a significant step towards fostering responsible, ethical, inclusive, and sustainable AI adoption across the globe.
The AI-REAL Toolkit is a comprehensive resource developed to assist countries, particularly DCO Member States, in navigating the complex landscape of AI integration. It provides a structured framework for evaluating a nation’s existing AI capabilities and offers guidance for developing tailored AI adoption strategies and roadmaps for both public and private sectors. The DCO emphasizes that by 2030, AI-driven technologies are projected to generate over $15.7 trillion in economic impact worldwide, underscoring the critical need for effective AI adoption to boost competitiveness, spur innovation, and drive digital transformation.
The toolkit’s framework is built upon five key pillars: Government Strategy, Policies & Regulations; Technology Advancements & Readiness; Data & Infrastructure; Impact of AI on the Economy; and Talent and Skill. Each pillar is further broken down into 17 interconnected dimensions and 39 specific indicators, allowing for a granular assessment of a country’s AI readiness. This multi-faceted approach ensures that the toolkit incorporates global best practices while remaining adaptable to local needs and priorities.
Key aspects addressed by the toolkit include:
Government Strategy, Policies & Regulations: This pillar focuses on establishing clear strategies, policies, frameworks, and effective governance to promote ethical, sustainable, and inclusive AI development while safeguarding societal interests and mitigating risks. It assesses the existence of national AI strategies, execution programs, ethical AI frameworks, and dedicated governmental bodies for oversight.
Technology Advancements & Readiness: This section evaluates a nation’s capacity for AI innovation, research and development (R&D), and the efficient deployment and integration of AI technologies across various sectors. It examines support for AI experimentation, the state of AI patents and academic publications, and the availability of government-supported platforms and tools for AI solutions.
Data & Infrastructure: This pillar emphasizes the importance of data availability, management, protection, and quality for AI applications. It also assesses the maturity of technology infrastructure, including specialized resources like supercomputers, GPUs, and cloud computing, to support AI development and scaling.
Impact of AI on the Economy: This pillar highlights AI’s role in fostering entrepreneurship, encouraging public-private partnerships, and promoting international collaborations. It evaluates the percentage of AI-focused startups, government programs for AI entrepreneurship, communication between public and private AI teams, and financial investments in AI R&D.
Talent and Skill: This pillar concentrates on cultivating AI expertise through education programs, upskilling initiatives, and continuous learning opportunities. It assesses the integration of AI curriculum in national education systems, the maturity of university AI programs, international exchange programs, and government-hosted AI events and literacy programs.
The AI-REAL Toolkit also defines five AI readiness levels: Aware, Active, Operational, Systemic, and Influencer. These levels categorize countries based on their progress in adopting AI technologies, from initial awareness to setting global standards and driving innovation on an international scale. The assessment provides a qualitative evaluation, offering insights into strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, rather than a competitive ranking.
Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya stated, ‘The development of this AI-REAL Toolkit reflects our commitment to guiding governments through the complexities of AI readiness and adoption. It serves as a comprehensive resource for assessing AI capabilities, integrating AI into public and private sectors, and aligning AI initiatives with national development goals. This toolkit is not merely a set of guidelines—it is a vision for a future where AI supports innovation, enhances governance, and enables economic growth across borders.’
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The DCO recommends conducting the AI readiness assessment every six months to ensure alignment with rapid technological advancements, swift adjustment of policies, continuous monitoring of progress, and maintenance of national competitiveness in the evolving AI landscape.
