The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently announced a groundbreaking initiative to include a National Artificial Intelligence System as a non-voting member of all federal and government company boards, and as an advisory member of the Council of Ministers starting next year. This move signals a significant shift in governance, positioning artificial intelligence alongside human intelligence in decision-making processes.

This initiative is not merely a publicity stunt but a serious commitment to reimagining governance. According to the OECD’s latest Reimagining Government report, public sectors must evolve from being slow regulators to proactive shapers of behavior, markets, and futures. While many countries are still debating the ethical implications of AI and concerns over job displacement, the UAE is boldly embracing the opportunities AI presents, transforming it from a back-office assistant into a strategic component of policy-making.

AI has evolved significantly since its inception in the 1950s, with recent advancements enabling systems to analyze vast amounts of data, detect anomalies, and simulate various risks in real time. Experts like OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei predict that artificial general intelligence (AGI) could be realized in just two years. This advancement could allow an AGI system to process decades of fiscal policy and various data points to simulate the impacts of numerous policy decisions in just hours, revolutionizing budget revisions and other governmental functions.

The private sector is already witnessing the benefits of AI in leadership roles, with companies like Salesforce reporting that AI handles up to 50 percent of their workload with impressive accuracy. In a notable move, the Chinese gaming company NetDragon Websoft appointed an AI chief executive, which resulted in a 10 percent increase in stock value. These developments indicate a shift towards a new executive model, and the UAE is nationalizing this approach by making AI an official advisory entity within its government structure.

The AI system will not replace ministers or vote but will act as a strategic partner, enhancing decision-making by synthesizing complex variables and providing data-driven insights. This aligns with the OECD’s vision of transitioning from “reactive bureaucracy” to anticipatory governance, which is essential for addressing the rapid changes posed by climate, health, and geopolitical challenges.

Furthermore, the UAE’s integration of AI is grounded in a sovereign and ethical framework, adhering to its AI governance standards, which aim to build public trust in an era where algorithmic transparency is often questioned. The OECD highlights that agility in governance is crucial for maintaining legitimacy, as slow-moving governments may lose public confidence amidst various crises.

To successfully implement this ambitious model, the UAE must focus on developing the necessary skills among its workforce. The OECD emphasizes the importance of system thinking, digital capacity, and collaborative leadership, which are essential for public servants at all levels. This upskilling initiative should extend beyond AI engineers to include policy designers, frontline officers, educators, and regulators, ensuring that everyone is equipped to work collaboratively with AI technologies.

By adopting this innovative approach, the UAE addresses one of the OECD’s pressing questions: what if governments became platforms for both human and artificial intelligence to co-create the future? As countries like the UAE advance rapidly, others risk stagnating due to outdated bureaucratic practices and legacy decision-making processes. This initiative sets a new blueprint, suggesting that AI will not replace human leadership but will enhance and refine it, offering a significant advantage in an increasingly complex world.