This study analyses the emerging global market for artificial intelligence technologies in the creative industries, examining demand, supply and the institutional environment in which the market develops. It systematises international and national classifications of the creative industries, including those of UNCTAD, UNESCO and WIPO, the concentric circles model, NESTA’s functional model, and the approaches adopted in China, the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation. On this basis, it proposes an adapted analytical framework for assessing AI adoption. The analysis centres on two overarching areas: factors shaping demand, including infrastructure, workforce skills, copyright regulation, government policy and access to finance; and factors shaping supply, including product and service models, data strategies, legal risk management and government support. Particular attention is paid to the evolution of international organisations’ agendas on AI in the creative economy. The study covers developments up to November 2025. The authors conclude that a dedicated classification of the creative industries specifically for AI is not required at this stage, and that the competitiveness of solutions increasingly depends not only on the quality of generated output but also on the capacity to manage data provenance and legal risks. The study is intended for researchers, lecturers, postgraduate and undergraduate students specialising in the global and digital economy and the regulation of the creative industries, as well as industry professionals and public authorities.