Artificial intelligence warns of the expansion of the Latin America's gap
Colombia has the same tool to seek advice on a case pending before it. A robot news anchor created by AI technology also broadcasts live reports in Mexico.
As has happened in the rest of the world, the bizarre and absurdities of the growing use of AI in Latin America are emerging. The difference is that the region is one of the most disparate regions around the world in terms of technology, not just through income. The question for both companies and regulators is how to exploit the rise of AI to narrow this gap.
Digital Divide
While smartphone use in the region is very small compared to wealthier countries, 40% of Latin American households
It still lacks stable broadband, according to a 2022 study, reducing the provision of internet connections needed to study, work or carry out online transactions.
The digital divide is particularly evident between urban and rural areas, and while the disparity extends for a long time, the concern is that the massive rise of AI will rapidly expand it.
Angel Milguizo, an economist advising UNESCO on artificial intelligence and partner at Madrid-based consulting firm Argia, says: "We are facing a revolution, and those who are part of it will fly in the sky, while those who do not take risks will be left behind, and if action is not taken, these gaps are likely to exacerbate."
The challenge is how to develop public policies to address the rise of AI in poor countries that often suffer from unstable political leadership.
Digital Adoption
Luis Adrián Salazar, international adviser and former Minister of Science, Technology and Communications in Costa Rica, points out that the region needs to encourage wider and more inclusive adoption of digital means. Proposes special funding mechanisms, established by governments, to fund retraining of workers in jobs that will be negatively affected by AI. It is also proposed to hold a summit meeting at the level of heads of countries to discuss a unified approach to AI.
If leaders fail to address the digital divide, he adds, other disparities – in wealth and politics, for example, could worsen, adding to "other societal breaches including violence." Some governments have had success in developing an AI strategy, and despite the apparent inequality, there is a growing awareness of the magnitude of the opportunity associated with it.
However, Latin American countries are generally not making good progress according to the AI readiness index set up by Oxford Insights, a UK-based consulting firm.
Low government investment in science and technology, coupled with the high cost of private sector financing, will make it difficult for Latin America to become a leader in artificial intelligence. In addition, the region tends to become a buyer rather than a developer of advanced technology, as there is a risk that digital dependence will become another arena for competition between the United States and China in Latin America.
Optimistic scenario
Quick. Last year, 34 technology companies worth more than one billion dollars were recorded in Latin America, compared to zero at the turn of the century. Some governments are open to experimenting with technology, with El Salvador adopting Bitcoin as a prominent model.
Still, there is no doubt that Latin American governments, businesses, and civil society all need a quick strategy if they are to meet the challenges of AI.
