This paper examines companies and universities in Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States that mention keywords related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) on their websites, using information provided by GlassAI. The study finds that these AI-related companies tend to be young, small, and focused on providing customer solutions in the information and communication sector. The types of AI-related activities reported by these companies vary across sectors. The analysis also reveals that the location of universities does not necessarily reflect the intensity of AI-related activities. The findings contribute to the ongoing debate on the digital transformation of the economy.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly important topic in the context of digital transformation, with many companies and universities actively exploring and using this technology. However, little is known about the characteristics and activities of these AI-related actors. This paper aims to address this gap by using online data to identify and analyse companies and universities that mention AI-related keywords on their websites. The analysis focuses on four countries – Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States – and sheds light on the current state of AI-related activities in these countries.
The paper uses information provided by GlassAI, a platform that collects and analyses online data to identify companies and universities that mention AI-related keywords on their websites. The analysis covers the period from January to December 2020. The paper examines the characteristics and activities of the identified AI-related actors, focusing on their size, sectoral distribution, core business, and types of AI-related activities.
The analysis finds that AI-related companies tend to be young and small, with a median age of 8 years and a median number of employees of 15. These companies are mainly active in the information and communication sector (61%), followed by the manufacturing sector (13%) and the professional, scientific, and technical services sector (12%). AI is at the core of their business, with 77% of companies reporting that they provide AI solutions or services. The types of AI-related activities reported by these companies vary across sectors, with companies in the manufacturing sector focusing more on robotics and automation, while those in the information and communication sector focusing more on natural language processing and machine learning.
The analysis also reveals that universities that mention AI-related keywords on their websites are concentrated in and around large cities, such as Toronto, London, and Boston. However, the location of universities does not necessarily reflect the intensity of AI-related activities, as universities in some smaller cities, such as Waterloo in Canada and Sheffield in the United Kingdom, are also active in AI-related research.
The paper provides novel and timely evidence on the characteristics and activities of AI-related actors in Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The findings suggest that AI-related companies tend to be young, small, and focused on providing customer solutions in the information and communication sector. The study also reveals that the types of AI-related activities reported by companies vary across sectors. The location of universities that mention AI-related keywords on their websites does not necessarily reflect the intensity of AI-related activities.
These results have important implications for policy makers and business leaders. The findings suggest that there is a need to foster an environment that supports the growth of AI-related companies, particularly in the information and communication sector. Moreover, the findings highlight the importance of sector-specific policies that take into account the varying types of AI-related activities across sectors. Finally, the study suggests that the location of universities is not a sufficient indicator of AI-related activities, and that policies should be designed to support AI-related research and innovation in all regions, not just in large cities.