BUILDING AN AI-ENABLED ECONOMY: GLOBAL POLICY MODELS AND STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS FOR AZERBAIJAN

This paper examines how leading economies integrate artificial intelligence into national economic and business systems and evaluates the relevance of these experiences for Azerbaijan’s emerging AI strategy. The study analyzes the strategic and legislative frameworks of the United States, China, and Spain, focusing on their approaches to innovation governance, sectoral prioritization, institutional design, and mechanisms that facilitate AI adoption by firms. The purpose of the research is to identify which elements of these international models can support Azerbaijan’s transition toward a more diversified, knowledge-based economy. Using a comparative policy analysis, the paper reviews national AI strategies, regulatory acts, implementation tools, and public–private innovation infrastructures to assess their transferability to the South Caucasus context. The findings show that the United States demonstrates the strongest framework for commercialization and research–industry collaboration; China provides a structured sectoral planning model with measurable targets; and Spain offers a balanced, human-centric regulatory approach aligned with EU governance standards. When compared with these systems, Azerbaijan’s strategy presents solid long-term ambitions but lacks detailed sectoral roadmaps, commercialization mechanisms, and trust-building governance tools. The paper concludes by proposing targeted recommendations for Azerbaijan, including AI commercialization hubs, sector-specific roadmaps, and an ethical governance package aligned with international best practices.