Who is winning the AI governance race? It is not who you might expect. In this episode, I dig into the latest AI and Democratic Values Index and explain why countries like Canada, Norway and the Netherlands are leading — and what that means for public sector professionals.
Why AI Governance Leadership Looks Nothing Like Technological Leadership
When most people talk about the AI race, they picture the US and China — frontier models, chip supply, billions in investment. But the Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP) is asking a completely different question: are governments putting democratic values, human rights and the rule of law at the centre of their AI policies? Change the question, and you change the winners.
What the CAIDP Index Actually Measures
This is the sixth edition of the AI and Democratic Values Index. It covers 90 countries, runs to 1,739 pages, includes 8,546 footnotes and draws on 1,483 contributors from over 120 countries. CAIDP is an independent non-profit, and it measures national AI policies against 12 criteria rooted in democratic values and rule of law.
The top tier this year includes:
- Canada
- Japan
- The Netherlands
- Norway
- Switzerland
- The United Kingdom
Norway is not normally part of the AI conversation. But this index is not measuring compute power — it is measuring oversight, accountability and institutional capacity.
The Follow-Through Problem
South Korea is a really telling example here. It was in Tier I last year but dropped to Tier II in the latest edition — partly because it did not complete a UNESCO readiness assessment. That might sound like an admin detail, but it is actually the whole point. Governance is not about launching a strategy or making a speech. It is about follow-through. It is about whether governments actually build institutional capacity, train people and turn principles into practice.
CAIDP’s own summary states that the United States has withdrawn from global AI leadership, placing it at the bottom of Tier III. That is their assessment based on their framework — not an uncontested fact. The US still leads on technological capability and commercial power. But this index asks whether those systems come with oversight that people can understand, challenge and trust. On that measure, the picture is far more complicated.
Europe’s Uncomfortable Reality Check
Europe has been central to the global governance agenda. The Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence — opened for signature in September 2024 — is the first legally binding international AI treaty, directly linking AI with human rights, democracy and rule of law. And of course there is the EU AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive risk-based legal framework for AI.
But here is the uncomfortable bit. On 27 July 2026, the EU AI Omnibus entered into force and formally extended the timetable for many high-risk AI obligations. Systems used in areas like biometrics, education, employment, migration and critical infrastructure will now face relevant rules from December 2027. AI built into regulated products faces rules from August 2028.
The European Commission says the extended timetable is about giving organisations the practical tools to comply properly. I understand that logic. But it does highlight the gap between writing ambitious regulation and making it work in practice. Europe has been very effective at describing what responsible AI should look like. The harder test is whether those principles translate into everyday decisions made by public bodies, procurement teams and communications professionals.
One thing that did not move: Article 50 on AI transparency has applied since 2 August 2026. That one is live right now.
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Sources
CAIDP: AI and Democratic Values Index 2026, 6th edition, released 9 April 2026. https://www.caidp.org/reports/caidp-index-2026/
Reboot Democracy: Progress on Global AI Governance — CAIDP AI Index and Implications for the Public Sector. https://rebootdemocracy.ai/blog/caidp-ai-index
Council of Europe: The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, opened for signature 5 September 2024. https://www.coe.int/en/web/artificial-intelligence/the-framework-convention-on-artificial-intelligence
Gibson Dunn: EU AI Act Omnibus Agreement — Postponed High-Risk Deadlines and Other Key Changes. https://www.gibsondunn.com/eu-ai-act-omnibus-agreement-postponed-high-risk-deadlines-and-other-key-changes/
Key Statistics
– The CAIDP AI and Democratic Values Index 2026 covers 90 countries and runs to 1,739 pages.
– The index includes 8,546 footnotes and draws on 1,483 contributors from more than 120 countries.
– This is the sixth edition of the CAIDP index, released on 9 April 2026.
– The EU AI Omnibus entered into force on 27 July 2026, extending high-risk AI deadlines.
– High-risk AI systems in areas like biometrics and employment face rules from 2 December 2027.
– AI transparency obligations under Article 50 of the EU AI Act applied from 2 August 2026.
About the Podcast Host
AI and Communications Specialist | Author | Podcaster | International Speaker
Joanne Sweeney is a recognised leader in digital marketing and digital transformation, specialising in the practical application of AI to enhance communication strategies. The founder of Digital Training Institute, Joanne, empowers leaders and communications professionals to leverage AI responsibly and effectively, ensuring transparency, trust, and tangible results.
She completed the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Programme in AI and Public Policy this summer before launching her fourth book AI Playbook, in September. Joanne has also published two editions of Public Sector Marketing Pro, which were preceded by her first title, Social Media Under Investigation Law Enforcement and the Social Web.
Her books have become go-to resources for governments, public sector and policing agencies, as well as marketing and communications professionals, all navigating the challenges of the changing Internet.
Joanne is the host of the AI SIX Podcast, a daily six-minute podcast that provides actionable insights, expert interviews, and practical advice to help professionals navigate the new world of work.
