Report 2.0January 2026 Disclaimer The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflectthe views of ITU. Any references made to specific countries, companies, products, initiatives orguidelines do not in any way imply that they are endorsed or recommended by ITU, the authors,in preference to others of similar nature that are not mentioned. Requests to reproduce extractsof this publication may be submitted tojur@itu.int. This document is intended for informationalpurposes only. Information provided is correct as of June 2025. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not implythe expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of ITU concerning the legal status of anycountry, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiersor boundaries. The mention of specific companies or certain manufacturer products does not imply that theyare endorsed or recommended by ITU in preference to others of a similar nature that are notmentioned. All reasonable precautions have been taken by ITU to verify the information contained in thispublication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind,either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lieswith the reader. The opinions, findings and conclusions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflectthe views of ITU or its membership. ISBN 978-92-61-41911-0 (electronic version)978-92-61-41921-9 (EPUB version) AI Ready – AnalysisTowards a StandardizedReadiness Framework Report 2.0 January 2026 Foreword Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the way we address complex societal challenges, offeringnew possibilities in areas such as healthcare, climate resilience, education, and digital inclusion.The ITU AI Readiness project was launched in 2024 to measure the ease/difficulties and theability to reap the benefits of AI integration. Last year, to further advance the discussions, ITU launched the ITU AI Readiness pilot Plugfestto collate and study projects on applying AI to solve real world problems. The ITU AI Readinessproject also called for engagement of experts to provide strategic feedback and guidance. 88experts from 38 countries were carefully selected. Mentoring and comments on the Plugfestprojects were provided by the experts in addition to valuable regional perspectives to shape theITU AI Readiness Framework. This project brings together contributions from multiple sectors– industry, academia, government, and civil society – creating a collaborative environmentwhere ideas, knowledge, and experiences are shared to develop the standardized AI ReadinessFramework. Bringing the experience from analysing use cases, in 2025, an analytical approach was followedin combination with a bottom-up approach. This approach derives dimensions and metricesfor readiness analysis from the Plugfest project reports. A way forward for integrating regionalcustomizations is provided in the form of Indices. In addition to the analysis, a practical,living toolkit is designed and presented which can be used by countries, enterprises, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and other 3rd parties. We acknowledge the support and are very grateful for the encouragement provided by theKingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of Chinaduring this project. We acknowledge also the work done by ITU Members in ITU Study Groupsand for their contribution to AI Readiness standards. As we continue developing the AI Readiness Project, we look forward to deepening ourcollaboration with partners worldwide, developing AI Readiness standards, building AIReadiness capacity, and contributing to multi-level AI Governance. Foreword.......................................................................................................................................iiList of contributors......................................................................................................................ivAcronyms......................................................................................................................................vi1.Introduction..........................................................................................................................7Background��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������7Insights from AI Readiness Study���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������8Report Structure�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������112.ITU AI Readiness Basic Framework.................................................................................12Data����������������������������������������������������������������������������