Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already transforming the lives of millions of people around the world. Recent studies estimate that it could drive annual productivity gains of up to 1.5% over the next decade, and that the global AI market will reach US$243 billion by the end of 2025. In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), more than 50% of large companies are already integrating AI solutions into their operations, while the public sector has begun adopting them to improve essential services.
This progress presents an unprecedented opportunity, but it also raises a key question: how can countries balance innovation and economic growth with the protection of rights and ethical principles? As a general-purpose technology, AI is set to profoundly reshape society. Countries in the region are seeking to harness its potential to foster development, increase competitiveness, and improve citizens’ well-being.
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The Regional Dialogue on AI Policies will serve as a platform, bringing together digital authorities from LAC, academic experts, and representatives from the private sector. Its objective is to assess the current state of AI policies in the region, examine their impact on public administration, and define a common roadmap for ethical, safe, and responsible adoption. |
The Dialogue will explore concrete experiences in areas where AI is already delivering tangible results, including citizen-service support, disease diagnostics, oversight and compliance, judicial management, and public security, among others.
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AgendaEmilio Pineda, Institutions for Development Manager, IDB Paula Bogantes, Minister, Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications, Costa Rica Martín Hilbert, Computational Social Science Professor, University of California, DAVIS Moderator: Emilio Pineda, Institutions for Development Manager, IDB Rodrigo Durán, Manager CENIA, ILIA Moderator: Javier Urra, IDB Group Representative in Costa Rica COFFEE BREAK: 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Nicolás Grossman, Project Director Global Index on Responsible AI, Global Center on AI Governance Lucía Velasco, Head AI Policy, UN ODET Moderator: Jose Inostroza Lara, Director, Digital Transformation Secretary, Chile LUNCH: 12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Eduardo Levy Yeyati, Professor, Torcuato di Tella University Moderator: Paula Acosta, Institutional Capacity of State Division Chief, IDB MUNDO: Carlos Santiso, Head of the Digital Government, Government Innovation & Open Governance Division – Global, OECD ALC: Juan David Gutiérrez, Professor, UNIANDES Moderator: Virginia Snyder, Sector Advisor Vice Presidency for Sectors and Knowledge. IDB COFFEE BREAK: 4:00 - 4:30 p.m.
This activity is exclusively reserved for the country delegations Each working group will have a moderator Specific topics for discussion will be selected by countries previously based on a set of options to be provided Designated speakers for each working group IDB Team DINNER: 7:30 p.m.
Paula Bogantes, Minister, Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications, Costa Rica Pep Martorell, Professor, ESADE Moderator: Adolfo Fábrega, General Administrator, AIG, Panama Paul Fervoy, Vice President, ALETI (Federation of Information Technology Entities of Latin America, Spain, and Portugal) Ana Castillo, Private Finance Operations Sr. Specialist, IDBLab Vinicio Vargas, Co-Founder & CEO at Ainnova Tech Moderator: Fernando Vargas, Senior Specialist in the Competitiveness, Technology, and Innovation Division, IDB COFFEE BREAK: 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Elena Arias, Lead Specialist in Education, IDB Miguel Porrúa, Principal Specialist Institutional Capacity of State Division, IDB Arturo Muente, Lead Specialist Institutional Capacity of State Division, IDB Pau Puig, Senior Specialist Connectivity, Markets, and Finance, IDB Moderator: Daniel Méndez, Presidential Secretary for Innovation. El Salvador LUNCH: 1:15 - 2:45 p.m.
Regional authorities, organizing institutions, and international organizations Moderators: Costa Rican Authority. TBD IDB Authority. TBD The Government of Costa Rica, the OECD, and the IDB are hosting this workshop as part of the process to develop an AI Policy Toolkit, aimed at offering region-specific resources and practical guidance to design and implement AI policies. Spearheaded by Costa Rica as the 2025 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting Chair, the Toolkit's development is being led by the OECD and receives support from several governments and entities. This is the second workshop in a series of regional workshops planned for 2025 and 2026. Other co-creation workshops are planned to take place in Africa and in the Middle East. Registration desk opens & welcome coffee Opening remarks: IDB, OECD, Costa Rica Presentation on OECD AI Principles and their state of implementation Presentation of the AI Strategy Framework for the Inter-American Development Bank Group Breakout groups discuss challenges in LAC related to trustworthy AI; report back to plenary Lunch: 12:30 – 13:30
Participants share experiences, best practices and resources for trustworthy AI in LAC Participants provide feedback on features of the Toolkit platform Coffee Break: 15:45 - 16:00
Three countries representing Central America, the Caribbean, and South America present priority sectors; group discussion on criteria and policy outcomes Closing remarks |
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