𝐎𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐈 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬

Oman’s National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) has unveiled the results of what it describes as the world’s first AI-powered national Household Income and Expenditure Survey, covering around 5,660 Omani and expatriate households across the Sultanate.

The new approach uses AI alongside survey data, administrative records and other data sources to estimate household spending patterns more efficiently than traditional year-long fieldwork. NCSI says the shift can save time, effort and resources while improving the timeliness of economic data.

One of the most important outcomes is its impact on Oman’s Consumer Price Index (CPI). The survey data will help establish updated spending weights, influencing how inflation is measured and reported and giving policymakers a more current picture of household consumption.

The initiative marks a significant move from AI experimentation to AI-powered public-sector operations, with NCSI indicating that similar applications could extend into other areas of national statistics.