US tops Global AI Brain Race Report 2026, China second, India ranked sixth

India has been ranked sixth in the Global AI Brain Race Report 2026 , a global assessment of nation-level artificial intelligence preparedness. The report, published by essayhumaniser.io , evaluated more than 100 countries using a weighted framework that measures AI research and development, economic integration, infrastructure, talent readiness, governance, responsible AI, public opinion, and academic strength .

The United States leads the rankings with a score of 82 out of 100 , topping in AI R&D (19.15/27.78, 69%) , economic integration ( 22.22/22.22 ), and infrastructure ( 16.21/16.67 ). The report highlights the US’s robust research output, widespread industry adoption, and strong digital backbone. China ranks second with R&D of 17.22/27.78 (62%) and the world’s largest AI education base, while Singapore comes third, benefiting from exceptional academic quality and talent readiness ( 9.31/16.67 ) despite having only two AI universities. South Korea and the United Kingdom occupy fourth and fifth positions.

India’s overall score of 32 out of 100 reflects its strength in talent readiness ( 9.12/16.67 ) but significant gaps in infrastructure (0.65/16.67) and governance (0.11/5.56) . Economic integration, which assesses how deeply AI drives industrial, commercial, and public-sector activity, also shows India lagging behind the top nations, highlighting slower adoption across manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and services.

Other categories such as responsible AI, public opinion, and academic strength further underscore the disparity. Leading countries maintain stronger institutions, clearer ethical frameworks, and broader societal engagement, whereas India is still building these systems despite its deep talent pool.

Unlike established global indices, the Global AI Brain Race Report 2026 is the first edition published solely by essayhumaniser.io , a private online platform without publicly listed offices or a documented history of prior publications.

Experts say India must invest more in R&D, build infrastructure, strengthen governance frameworks, and accelerate responsible AI adoption to avoid missing the next technological revolution and compete effectively with global leaders.