WGS 2026 Dubai: New AI platform launched to guide governments from pilot projects to real results
Only 5% of AI pilots scale successfully, global business report finds
DUBAI – Governments looking to move artificial intelligence from experimentation to real-world impact have a new instrument at their disposal.
Bain & Company, in collaboration with the World Governments Summit (WGS), has launched the AI Readiness Tool, a platform designed to help public sector entities assess how prepared they are for AI and define practical steps to accelerate adoption.
The tool was unveiled during WGS 2026, taking place in Dubai from 3 to 5 February.
AI Readiness Tool
The launch comes against the backdrop of a persistent global challenge in AI deployment. According to the MIT State of AI in Business 2025 Report, only 5 percent of deployed AI pilots successfully scale and deliver measurable returns. The key barrier is not a lack of ambition, but gaps in the foundational capabilities needed to deploy AI responsibly and at scale.
The AI Readiness Tool addresses this gap by focusing on organisational maturity rather than isolated projects. It is built on Bain’s latest AI readiness research and is structured to support governments seeking long-term, system-wide transformation.
How it works
Government entities complete a structured assessment made up of 34 targeted questions. These are distributed across five core dimensions: AI Strategy, Use Case Development and Deployment, Technology and Data, Talent and Capabilities, and Governance and Operating Model.
Based on performance, organisations are classified into one of four readiness levels: Strategic Shaper, Value Explorer, Early Explorer, or Foundation Builder. The tool then generates an overall AI readiness score, pillar-level diagnostics and tailored recommendations.
Practical outcomes
By combining benchmarking, diagnostics and actionable guidance, the platform enables leaders to prioritise investments, strengthen governance frameworks and make informed decisions. Users receive a detailed scorecard comparing their organisation with peers, alongside a customised roadmap to close capability gaps and support responsible, scalable AI adoption.