Jordan Artificial Intelligence policy

The Jordan Artificial Intelligence Policy 2020, issued by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, sets a comprehensive strategic vision to integrate AI across public and private sectors, enhance national capacities, and position Jordan as a regional leader in digital transformation. It is structured around five core pillars:

1. Governance

The policy mandates a National Ministerial Committee for Artificial Intelligence, led by the Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship and including representatives from key ministries, civil society, private sector, and academia. This committee is tasked with creating a national AI strategy, identifying sectoral priorities, and overseeing implementation and impact assessment. The Ministry must report annually using smart self-assessment tools and is responsible for periodic policy review (every four years or less).

2. Legislative and regulatory environment

Recognising that innovation needs legal support, the policy stresses reviewing procurement laws to prioritise open-source and local AI solutions. It also calls for:

• A National Charter on AI Ethics to ensure transparency, fairness, and privacy.
• Risk assessments for issues such as bias, privacy violations, and job displacement.
• A regulatory sandbox for piloting AI solutions in controlled environments, especially in sensitive sectors.

3. Digital infrastructure

The government aims to boost AI by upgrading the ICT sector, emphasising:

• Investment in 5G, IoT, and local data exchange nodes.
• Implementation of the Data Classification and Management Policy (2020) and Open Government Data Policy.
• Development of standardised, secure APIs and participatory data warehouses.
• Promotion of cloud services, particularly for SMEs, to scale digital innovation affordably.

4. Business and investment environment

To grow Jordan’s AI economy, the policy focuses on:

• Expanding the role of the National Center for Innovation (NCI) and research hubs in different regions.
• Creating AI research centers targeting local needs (e.g., agriculture in the north, energy in the south).
• Developing a classification system for AI entities, tied to compliance, research cooperation, and alignment with national priorities.
• Encouraging investment through tax incentives, research grants, public-private partnerships, and simplified bidding processes.
• Prioritising AI projects in public-private cooperation frameworks, including joint app development and experimental projects.

5. Capacity building

The policy takes a long-term view of AI readiness by:

• Launching awareness campaigns for both civil society and government personnel.
• Reforming school and university curricula to strengthen math, programming, and digital literacy.
• Training educators and building partnerships between educational institutions and industry.
• Working with the Technical and Vocational Skills Development Council to forecast future skill needs and create relevant training pathways.
• Supporting continuous professional development and fellowship opportunities for public servants in the private sector.