AI is transforming the future—fast. Who’s truly ready for it, and who risks leaving people behind? Part I
A data-driven look at how global AI readiness contrasts with income inequality—revealing who benefits and who gets left behind. In Part 1 of this series, we look at the top 20 countries by GDP.
4/15/20251 min read
This dual-axis plot compares the AI Preparedness Index (AIPI) and Gini Index (income inequality) for the 20 largest economies in the world.
AIPI (blue squares, left Y-axis): Higher = more ready for AI adoption and integration
Gini Index (red circles, right Y-axis): Higher = more income inequality
What the data tells us, a summary
As the race for artificial intelligence (AI) supremacy intensifies, the world’s largest economies lead in digital readiness. According to the IMF’s AI Preparedness Index (AIPI), countries like the United States, Japan, and Germany exhibit high scores—reflecting strong digital infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, and regulatory frameworks. Yet, when we layer in the Gini Index—a measure of income inequality—a more complex picture emerges.
Among the top 20 countries by GDP, several demonstrate a stark contrast between technological advancement and socioeconomic inclusion. The U.S., for instance, boasts one of the highest AIPI scores, yet also ranks high in income inequality. Similarly, Brazil shows moderate AI readiness but suffers from one of the highest Gini scores in this group, suggesting that wealth—and by extension, access to AI benefits—remains highly concentrated.
On the other hand, countries like Germany and Japan are in a more balanced position. Having high AI readiness with relatively low inequality, pointing to policy models that will likely merge innovation with inclusive growth.
This duality underscores a critical insight: being prepared for AI doesn’t mean being prepared for its consequences. As nations invest in AI, they must equally address who gains access and who gets left behind—because digital inclusion is not automatic.
Interested in a further deep dive or want access to the formatted data set ? contactus@btrackdata.com
AI Preparedness Index IMF - https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/datasets/AIPI
GINI Index sourced from World Bank - https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI