New Zealand’s risk-averse approach to AI has its critics, and defenders

Some NZ organisations are more focused on risks of AI than its opportunities. (Image: Getty)

Wed, 12 Feb 2025

The Oxford Insights global survey of government AI readiness has a bold number next to New Zealand’s score when it comes to our vision.That bold number is zero. The OECD average is 89.47. The higher the number, the better the score.Over the years, NZ’s ranking in the AI readiness survey overall first slipped gradually, then plummeted rapidly. In 2017, NZ was ranked ninth, in 2019 that had slipped to 13th. Last year, NZ’s ranking was 40th. Technology leaders who will be speaking at the 2025 Economics Forum at the...

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