Türkiye Ranks 53rd in Global AI Readiness, Trails Behind as Investments Surge Worldwide
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Despite a global boom in artificial intelligence (AI) investment, Türkiye has fallen behind, ranking 53rd out of 188 countries in the Oxford Insights 2024 AI Readiness Index. While the U.S. plans to invest $500 billion, the EU $200 billion, France $109 billion, and Saudi Arabia $40 billion, Türkiye remains absent from the list of top contenders.
The index placed Türkiye just above war-torn Ukraine, raising concerns over AI strategy gaps and coordination issues.
Oxford Index Assesses Vision, Not Just Spending
Unlike traditional investment metrics, the Oxford AI Readiness Index evaluates countries across multiple strategic dimensions including education systems, public sector strategy, digital governance capacity, and data policy frameworks—not just monetary commitment.
According to the World Economic Forum, 85 million jobs will disappear globally by 2030, while 97 million new roles will emerge, driven by AI and automation. Meanwhile, Türkiye faces its own employment crisis, with 2.8 million unemployed and a youth unemployment rate at 15%.
DEVA Party MP: “No Vision, No Coordination” in AI Governance
Evrim Rızvanoğlu, a Member of Parliament from the DEVA Party, criticized Türkiye’s AI policy framework in an interview with Karar. She pointed to a lack of centralized coordination, saying:
“The Ministry of Industry and the Digital Transformation Office operate independently. Universities are active, but disconnected from the private sector. There’s no unified plan, no central strategy, and no institutional coordination.”
Rızvanoğlu described Türkiye’s AI rank—just ahead of Ukraine—as evidence of the failure of its national technology policies.
Experts Call for a Central AI Authority in Türkiye
Industry analysts and policymakers are now urging the creation of a Central Artificial Intelligence Agency to align strategy, coordinate stakeholders, and compete globally in a rapidly evolving AI landscape. Without a clear national vision, experts warn, Türkiye risks falling further behind in digital competitiveness.