- Mainland China has emerged as the region with the largest volume of AI papers, demonstrating a remarkable 696 per cent increase over the past decade.
- East Asian nations, including Japan and South Korea, are also making significant contributions.
The burgeoning field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a crucial indicator of national competitiveness in the 21st century. The recent Global AI Competitiveness Index, a collaborative effort between the International Finance Forum (IFF) and Deep Knowledge Group (DKG), provides valuable insights into the global distribution of AI research and development.
The report’s findings highlight a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape of AI, with Saudi Arabia emerging as a noteworthy contender, ranking 15th globally for AI research publications in 2025. This achievement surpasses established technological powerhouses like the Netherlands, Singapore, Russia, Switzerland, and Sweden, signifying a tangible impact of the Kingdom’s strategic investments and national vision.
The Index’s methodology, which analyses over two million AI-related scientific research papers and AI invention patents, offers a comprehensive evaluation of national performance.
Saudi Arabia’s impressive output of 29,639 AI publications, translating to over 823 publications per million people, underscores its growing prominence as an AI research hub. This surge in publications is not merely a matter of quantity, but also reflects a growing commitment to quality and impact within the academic community.
Central Pillar
Dmitry Kaminskiy, General Partner at Deep Knowledge Group, aptly connects Saudi Arabia’s success to its ambitious Vision 2030 objectives.
“This national strategy emphasises diversification and the development of a knowledge-based economy, with AI positioned as a central pillar. The Index’s findings, therefore, validate the Kingdom’s strategic direction and suggest that its sustained investments in AI infrastructure and talent development are yielding positive results, setting the stage for continued advancements.”
While Saudi Arabia’s rise is notable, the report also reveals the broader global trends in AI research. Mainland China has emerged as the region with the largest volume of AI papers, demonstrating a remarkable 696 per cent increase over the past decade.
East Asian nations, including Japan and South Korea, are also making significant contributions, solidifying the region’s role in shaping the future of AI. In terms of AI research density, however, Singapore, Switzerland, the UK, and Australia demonstrate exceptional performance, contributing over 2,000 AI papers per million in population.
The report also sheds light on international collaboration in AI research. Chinese scholars are identified as key partners for researchers from the US, France, and Germany, highlighting China’s influence on the global AI research ecosystem.
Furthermore, an analysis of AI patents in China and the US reveals differing focuses. US companies are primarily concentrated on foundational and intermediate AI technologies, such as processor architecture and machine learning, while China is still striving to catch up in these areas.
Dominating the patent landscape are established technology giants, with IBM currently holding the most AI-related patents globally, followed by Tencent and Samsung.