Montenegro has taken an important step toward the digital transformation of its public administration with the presentation of its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Readiness Assessment Report, offering a detailed analysis of the current landscape and recommendations for future development in this field.
The Artificial Intelligence Landscape Assessment (AILA) was presented at an event in Podgorica jointly organized by the Ministry of Public Administration and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Montenegro, using a methodology developed by UNDP’s Chief Digital Office in New York.
Funded by the European Union, the findings and recommendations of the AILA Report will serve as the foundation for Montenegro’s first national AI Strategy.
The report provides a comprehensive overview of the readiness of Montenegrin institutions to use AI ethically and strategically. Strengths include a solid digital infrastructure and growing institutional awareness of the importance of innovation in public service delivery.
However, the report also identifies several key challenges – including the need for enhanced professional skills, improved interoperability between institutions, and the establishment of a clear regulatory framework for AI use in the public sector. It includes analysis of relevant policies, institutional capacities, IT infrastructure, data quality and availability, as well as the skills and knowledge of public employees.
It was emphasized that technologies like AI must serve human development and promote equal opportunities for all as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly present in all aspects of society.
Through tools like AILA, supports is given in steering digital transformation in a direction that empowers people and their achievements, rather than replacing them through automation.
Support for the development and application of AI tools in the public sector and academia will also be provided by the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro.
The AILA Report comes at a time when artificial intelligence is at the center of both European and global development debates, as Montenegro works to align its national legislation with the European Union’s legal framework in this area.
Artificial intelligence is also the focus of this year’s UNDP Global Human Development Report, titled “A Question of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, which calls for responsible and inclusive technological development.
Together, the AILA Report and the Global HDR provide a broader perspective — while AILA assesses institutional readiness for AI at the national level, the global report offers a framework for shaping a future where emerging technologies reduce inequality, support sustainable development, and strengthen human capabilities.
