Morocco's Position in the Global AI Index
The Global Responsible Artificial Intelligence Index for 2026, which was recently unveiled in Geneva, Switzerland, positions Morocco at 63rd place among 135 countries, earning a score of 35.62 out of 100. This achievement makes Morocco the leading nation in the Maghreb region, with Libya following in 78th place, and Tunisia and Algeria ranked 110th and 123rd, respectively. This index, which provides comparative insights into how countries manage and utilize artificial intelligence, is produced by the Global AI Governance Center in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office through the 'AI for Development' program.
Norway topped the index, followed closely by Italy in second place with a score of 72.71. Other countries in the upper echelons include Ireland, France, and the Netherlands, while South Sudan languished at the bottom in 135th place.
Insights from the Responsible AI Index Report
The second edition of this report reviewed approximately 396 frameworks for responsible artificial intelligence, alongside 805 government initiatives and over 600 civil society initiatives. Notably, about 53% of the global population has utilized generative AI tools. However, the average score across the index remains low, averaging around 35 out of 100, with evidence of implementation found in only 55% of cases where frameworks are active. This figure drops to 45% in Global South countries.
The report indicates that Global South nations have significantly expanded the scope of responsible AI within their national frameworks, increasing the number of covered topics from 2.5 to 4.7, marking an 83% rise. However, 78% of responsible AI frameworks in these countries are non-binding, compared to 42% in Global North countries. Furthermore, the safety and security of AI are among the fastest-growing areas, yet much of the focus is solely on technical assurances. The index found credible evidence of government misuse of AI in 35 out of 135 countries, with only 36% of countries having frameworks that address violence and misinformation facilitated by AI.
Governments are seen to regulate AI transparency yet do not disclose their own uses of the technology. Notably, 58% of countries possess some form of regulatory frameworks for AI; however, public disclosure regarding government algorithmic systems remains the weakest performance indicator. Additionally, the environmental footprint of AI remains a blind spot in responsible AI governance, with only 27% of countries having frameworks that address the environmental impacts of AI, and 83% of these frameworks are non-binding.
In conclusion, while governments recognize the need for AI in local languages, they do not mandate developers to provide such capabilities. Initiatives led by governments in 52 countries address cultural and linguistic diversity, but only a few require developers to use diverse datasets.
As reported by hespress.com.
