The Countries Winning the Global AI Innovation Race Revealed

The global AI market is valued at over €130B and is expected to grow to nearly €1.9T by 2030. A new study by Linkee, an AI-powered link-building automation software company, aims to identify the countries winning the AI innovation race.

The study examined five key factors of national AI strength: AI patents per capita, the number of AI models (machine learning systems), total investments in AI, the share of workers using AI in daily work, and the AI job openings per 1M people. These factors were combined into a composite score, which ranks countries in descending order of AI innovation and readiness.

You can find the full research findings by following this link.

The United States secures first place in the global AI innovation race with a near-perfect score of 99. It is home to 561 AI models and invests more than any other country, putting $77.7B into the field, almost $70B ahead of its closest competitor. AI has also become part of everyday work, with 71% of employees using artificial intelligence tools.

Switzerland takes second place with a score of 66. It records the highest number of AI patents per capita at 18, far ahead of the U.S. at 5. Investment into artificial intelligence in Switzerland is substantial, with $565M flowing into the sector and supporting 43 AI models. Every day use of AI is common; 82% of workers report relying on AI in their jobs, 10 percent more than in the US.

South Korea comes in third place for the global AI innovation race, earning a final score of 54. It has 17 AI patents per 100K people, just behind Switzerland, but invests far more in the sector, putting in $2.6B. AI is also widely used in the workplace, with over 70% of employees dependent on it in their daily work, matching levels seen in the United States.

China ranks fourth, receiving a score of 52. It invests $9B into AI, more than three times South Korea’s contribution, and has produced 196 notable AI models. AI adoption is high across the workforce, with 91% of people using AI in their daily work. The country also shows strong demand for AI talent, with a rate of 21 job openings per 1M people across the country, roughly five times the number in South Korea.

Singapore rounds out the top five in the global AI innovation ranking, reaching a score of 32. The country stands out as a hub for AI careers, offering the highest rate of job openings at 216. Its $1.5B investment in the sector, triple that of Switzerland, supports 17 active AI models. On the job, AI has become part of everyday processes, with 88% of employees making use of it in their work.

Canada holds sixth place with a score of 29. The country slightly outpaces Singapore in investment, contributing $1.96B to AI, while matching China for patents per person at 6. Canada has rolled out 94 notable AI models, and the job market remains strong with a rate of 72 AI-related positions available.

India takes seventh place, earning a score of 24 in the global AI innovation race. Workforce adoption leads the ranking, with 92% of workers using AI in their daily tasks. Investment is among the highest at $7.25B, and India holds twice the number of AI patents as Singapore, while producing 29 models.

The United Kingdom comes in eighth, scoring 16. It holds 140 AI patents, the third highest in the ranking, and has invested $4.44B into the sector. Job opportunities remain strong, with 21 openings per 1M residents, matching the rate of China.

Australia comes in ninth place, earning a score of 13. Investment totals $626M, slightly above Singapore, while 84% of the workforce integrates AI into daily work, 15 percent higher than in the UK. The country has developed 7 notable AI models, with demand for artificial intelligence reflected in 30 job openings per 1M residents.

Italy ranks tenth, finishing off the most AI-innovative countries, with a score of 12. It holds 4 AI patents per 100K people, three more than the UK, and has produced three notable AI models. Investment stands at $167M, while around 60% of workers use AI in their roles. The country also records 31 job openings per 1M people.

Vahan Poghosyan, CEO at Linkee, commented, “The global AI race isn’t just about patents or funding; it reflects which countries are shaping the future of work, innovation, and daily life. Where AI is adopted thoughtfully, it’s creating new opportunities, changing industries, and even redefining what skills matter. Understanding these trends shows us not just who leads in technology, but who is preparing societies for the next decade of change.”