AI Governance and Strategic Priorities: Mapping National AI Policies in the OECD

Abstract

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape economies, public institutions, and social systems, the need for coherent and accountable governance frameworks has become increasingly urgent. This study examines the strategic orientations and governance mechanisms embedded in national AI policies across OECD member countries, using a dataset comprising 1,884 policy initiatives recorded in the OECD AI Policy Observatory. Through descriptive and comparative analysis, the study maps the thematic focus, ethical commitments, funding structures, and oversight practices of AI governance at the national level. The results indicate a strong concentration of policy activity among technologically advanced countries, with Luxembourg (132), Germany (120), and France (108) leading in the number of initiatives. Thematically, 924 policies focus on national AI strategies, followed by digital economy (286) and science and innovation (232). In terms of operational focus, the most common policy areas include skills development (434), AI in public services (421), and research funding (409). Ethical principles are referenced inconsistently: transparency (481 mentions), human-centered values (431), and accountability (404) are the most cited, yet 7.4% of policies contain no ethical reference at all. Notably, only 23.7% of policies involve private sector funding, and a mere 9.3% report formal evaluation mechanisms, highlighting critical gaps in implementation, collaboration, and accountability. These findings reveal both progress and limitations in OECD-level AI governance. While policy frameworks are expanding in scope and ambition, the uneven operationalization of ethics, limited stakeholder engagement, and absence of robust evaluation processes suggest that current governance architectures remain incomplete. This study offers a foundation for further research and policymaking toward more inclusive, transparent, and adaptive AI governance models.

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