The Global Index of Responsible AI measures how countries are honoring their international commitments on AI governance and responsible AI, especially those tied to UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. The project tracks 17 responsible AI topics, assessing whether countries have relevant laws, regulations, and real-world implementation, using a global network of 135 researchers—one in each country—who contribute data every two years. Beyond serving as a diagnostic tool for international organizations, the project also has strong value for journalists because it offers open, comparable data that helps contextualize public debates on AI, identify regulatory gaps, and bring a globally informed but locally grounded perspective led by a South African organization.
