Top AI-Ready Cities In The World: Study

A new study by Avantis AI analyzed 21 cities from all over the world to find out their AI readiness by evaluating five key indicators: the number of AI-related jobs advertised, AI-related events, AI companies, the AI Readiness Index from the Oliver Wyman Forum, and search demand for generative AI terms. Data was sourced from platforms such as Glassdoor, 10times, Crunchbase, and Mangools. The data was normalized using Min-Max scaling and weighted according to impact: AI jobs (25%), AI events (15%), AI companies (20%), AI Readiness Index (25%), and search demand (15%). A composite score was then calculated for each city, scaled for interpretation, and ranked to determine AI readiness, providing a clear hierarchy of cities' potential in AI adoption and advancement.

Data Source : Study by Avantis AI

San Francisco takes the top spot with a composite score of 61.63, largely driven by its impressive count of 4,255 AI companies, the highest among all cities analyzed. The city also ranks high in AI readiness with a score of 71.9 and has 889 AI-related jobs advertised. Although San Francisco hosts 664 AI-related events annually, placing it second to London, its overall environment positions it as a global hub for AI innovation and development.

London ranks second with a composite score of 57.75 and is a standout for hosting the most AI-related events annually at 4,118, fostering a vibrant AI community. London also has 1,914 AI companies and an AI readiness index of 75.6, which is among the highest in the study. However, it advertises fewer AI-related jobs (3,115) compared to Tokyo, highlighting a gap in job market expansion relative to its extensive event offerings.

Tokyo comes in third with a score of 44.30, distinguished by the highest number of AI-related job advertisements at 8,398, reflecting strong demand for AI talent. The city has 872 AI companies and a moderate AI readiness index of 58.4. Although it has fewer AI companies compared to San Francisco and London, Tokyo is clearly investing heavily in growing its talent pool.

Singapore is fourth, standing out with the highest AI readiness index of 75.8. Singapore also shows high public interest with a search demand of 60.10 for AI terms per 1,000 residents.This makes Singapore a key player in AI in Asia, with strong government support and public engagement.

New York places fifth with a score of 39.09. Its positioning is supported by a solid number of AI companies (1,835) and a high AI readiness index of 72.7. The city also has significant public interest, with a search demand of 56.54 per 1,000 residents. However, with only 911 AI-related jobs advertised, New York could benefit from expanding its job market to keep pace with other leading cities like Tokyo and London.

Washington, D.C. is sixth with a composite score of 37.63. The city is notable for its high public interest in AI, with a search demand of 306.48 per 1,000 residents—the second highest after San Francisco. The city advertises 1,537 AI jobs despite having fewer AI companies, which suggests that while interest is high, the business ecosystem may still be catching up.

Paris comes in seventh with a score of 32.60. The city also shows a strong public engagement in AI, as shown by a search demand of 76.39 per 1,000 residents. Paris has a solid AI readiness index of 71, but hosts fewer events (1,361) than its peers, reflecting a steady but less dynamic AI community.

Amsterdam ranks eighth with a composite score of 31.72, supported by a growing number of AI companies (549) and a search demand of 85.71 per 1,000 residents. The city hosts 1,224 AI events annually lagging behind more established leaders.

Berlin comes in ninth with a score of 28.14, with 598 AI companies and a solid AI readiness index of 67.3. The city has 890 AI jobs advertised and hosts 1,477 AI events annually – third largest number of events in the list. Despite these strengths, Berlin shows the lowest public interest in AI terms among the top ten cities, with a search demand of just 23.05 per 1,000 residents.

Boston rounds out the top ten with a composite score of 27.36. Boston features 692 AI companies, an AI readiness index of 68.5. However, it has one of the lowest counts of AI-related jobs advertised at 586 and hosts 876 AI events annually, suggesting a well-established but smaller-scale AI community compared to its peers.

A spokesperson from Avantis AI commented: “Some cities are not just growing their business sectors; they're cultivating entire ecosystems where AI innovation thrives as a core part of their identity. Others are doubling down on talent acquisition, signaling a strategic commitment to building robust AI workforces and expanding their technological capabilities. Meanwhile, cities with vibrant AI event calendars are turning AI into a cultural movement, making the technology accessible and integral to community life. It’s clear that these cities aren’t simply following a template—they’re crafting environments where AI can flourish, each driven by their own distinct strategies and visions for the future.”