Bridging the AI Divide: A Comparative Maturity Assessment of AI Capacity in the Southern Mediterranean
This study applies a UN-inspired AI maturity framework (Tier 0–4) to nine South Mediterranean countries—Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, and Tunisia—combining Government AI Readiness Index scores, Open Data Inventory (ODIN) metrics, and OECD AI Capability Indicators to assess public-sector AI capacity. Results reveal a two-speed trajectory: Morocco, Egypt, and Jordan qualify as 'AI ready' (T2), while the remaining countries remain 'AI nascent' or 'experimenters' (T0–T1), constrained by limited compute, weak data governance, and modest AI-skilled workforces. The paper proposes national and regional policy recommendations—including costed AI strategies, shared compute infrastructure, and cross-border research on Arabic and low-resource languages—to help the region progress toward 'AI enabled' status while ensuring AI supports inclusive, rights-respecting development.