Mexico Ranks 7th in AI Adoption Among LATAM Countries: ECLAC

Mexico is one of the leading adopters of artificial intelligence (AI) in Latin America, ranking seventh among the nineteen surveyed in the recent edition of the “Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index” (ILIA), presented by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). 

“Having an index of this nature helps us move forward with consistent policies and is fundamental to the success of these strategies,” said Aisén Etcheverry, Chile's Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation during the presentation of the ILIA 2024 results. “This type of tool is key to guide public policies and the investments needed to close technology gaps in the region.”

The ILIA is a tool that evaluates the progress and readiness of countries in the region in terms of AI adoption, providing a quantitative framework that identifies achievements, gaps and opportunities for the development of an ethical and sustainable technological ecosystem. The index classifies countries into three categories: pioneers, adopters, and explorers, based on their maturity in AI adoption. 

Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay lead the index in the pioneer category, scoring 73.07, 69.30 and 64.98, respectively. These leading countries have stood out in the index for their robust technology infrastructure, the development of specialized talent, and public policies that support AI research and adoption. In contrast, Mexico falls inro the adopter category, with a score of 46.85, just behind countries such as Argentina (55.77), Colombia (52.64), and the Dominican Republic (51.40).

Nevertheless, Mexico has made progress in integrating AI into productive and public sectors but continues to face significant challenges regarding the availability of specialized talent and the formulation of emerging public policies, according to ECLAC. Unlike the ILIA pioneers, which have consolidated a solid technological infrastructure and have well-defined national strategies, Mexico demonstrates moderate progress in AI research and development, as well as in the implementation of policies that encourage the mass adoption of these technologies.

Mexico's position in the ILIA underscores the need to strengthen its technological infrastructure and develop public policies that not only drive AI adoption, but also address gaps in specialized talent, one of the main problems both nationally and in the rest of the region, according to Rodrigo Durán, manager of Chile's National Center for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA). 

According to Honeywell's Industrial AI Insights study, the most promising applications of AI in Mexico include real-time data generation, automation to increase efficiency, and cybersecurity improvements. These areas represent the greatest potential for growth among Mexican companies.

The Honeywell study revealed that 67% of respondents believe that real-time data generation significantly improves decision making, while 63% see automation as a key benefit. In addition, 57% highlight the importance of AI in the early detection of cyber threats. These data figures reinforce the idea that AI is an essential tool for the modernization and competitiveness of the Mexican productive sector, although its full potential will only be achieved with a coherent and well-articulated national strategy.