Riyadh: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in cooperation with the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE), has launched the updated version of the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM 2.0).

According to Saudi Press Agency, the launch took place during the fourth UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (GFEAI 2026) in Riyadh. The event aims to help countries assess their readiness for AI governance and strengthen their ability to translate ethical principles into practical policies and practices.

The launch builds on joint efforts by UNESCO and ICAIRE. The center played a key role in making the methodology and its report available in Arabic, reviewing and proofreading the translation to ensure its accuracy, and preparing publications and printed copies for distribution.

ICAIRE is also developing an interactive website to facilitate access to information on AI governance and countries' readiness and promote digital knowledge.

The center tracks the implementation of the methodology across 195 countries and territories. As of 2024, 38 countries and territories had completed a full assessment and published their results. This provides a knowledge base to support the exchange of expertise and help identify needs related to policy development and institutional capacity-building.