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CEPAL (Santiago, Chile) launched ILIA 2024 on September 24, bringing together experts and authorities from government and technology sectors to enhance the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The region recognizes AI as a vital tool for tackling its multiple challenges, setting the stage for this event.

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) and various regional organizations supported the development of the study by CENIA (National Center for Artificial Intelligence of Chile), which assesses the preparedness of 19 LAC countries for artificial intelligence.

The ILIA 2024 launch ceremony featured the participation of Chile's Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation, Aisén Etcheverry; the European Union Ambassador to Chile, Claudia Gintersdorfer; and the Deputy Executive Secretary of CEPAL, Javier Medina (remotely), alongside authorities from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), and UNESCO. Key experts and actors from the AI ecosystem in Latin America joined them, participating in panels, talks, and presentations.

“For the European Union, the Digital Alliance between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has become a central pillar of our Global Gateway strategy in the region. The EU-LAC Digital Alliance promotes our regions' shared interest in a human-centered digital transformation model. Artificial intelligence is a priority issue for this alliance and a key topic of a high-level bi-regional political dialogue on digital matters scheduled for November in Santiago, alongside the eLAC Ministerial. The expansion of this AI index launched today is a concrete example of EU-LAC cooperation in digitalization,” stated Ambassador Gintersdorfer, emphasizing the importance of direct connectivity established by the BELLA Program, which connects both continents and facilitates bi-regional cooperation.

Rodrigo Durán, manager of CENIA, highlighted that while the development of specialized human talent in AI in LAC has increased, it still lags significantly behind figures from the northern hemisphere. He noted the issue of talent flight from the region, with Costa Rica and Uruguay being exceptions that have attracted more talent than they have lost. "The top three countries for human talent are Chile (74.3), Uruguay (62.11), and Costa Rica (46.99)," Durán reported.

Philippe Navaux, president of the Advanced Computing Network for Latin America and the Caribbean (SCALAC), participated in the panel discussing the progress and challenges of enabling factors for robust AI development. SCALAC contributed to the preparation of ILIA 2024, while RedCLARA facilitated SCALAC's collaboration with various countries in the region to promote cooperation in this field.

The event underscored the importance of AI in improving citizens' quality of life and fostering sustainable economic growth. Presenters showcased AI as a transformative solution capable of optimizing public service operations through innovative implementations.

Experts from various fields shared practical cases of AI adoption and development in the region, presenting findings on the factors enabling robust AI growth, including the dAWS case with "Plu," a chatbot that promises to revolutionize education in Brazil. Discussions also addressed the gaps and challenges faced by Latin American countries in effectively implementing these technologies.

The research, adoption, and development segment included presentations on the state of the AI research and innovation ecosystem, featuring Microsoft’s success with "El vuelo de Guacamaya," a project using AI for Amazon monitoring. This segment emphasized the need to generate knowledge and innovation in AI as a transformative engine for the region's productive sectors.

The final part of the event focused on the "Cable Humboldt Project," a collaboration between Google and the Chilean government that aims to enhance connectivity in Latin America, and discussed advancements in AI institutional frameworks and regulations. This discussion concluded with a panel on the institutional and regulatory challenges necessary for the development of ethical and sustainable AI.

The second edition of ILIA 2024 serves as a crucial platform for fostering dialogue and collaboration among governments, academia, businesses, and civil society, promoting robust AI governance, and ensuring its benefits are equitably distributed.

Discover ILIA 2024 at https://indicelatam.cl/.
For more information: https://www.cenia.cl/