Young AI Leaders Mexico Forge Alliance at AI for Good 2025

Representatives of the Young AI Leaders Hub from Mexico City participated in the AI for Good Global Summit 2025, held on July 8–11 in Geneva and organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). During the event, the team presented their progress to an international audience, established a strategic collaboration with the global organization Ashoka, and strengthened their position as a key player in applying AI for social impact in Latin America.

“AI is no longer a thing of the future; it is something of the present. Action must be taken now because it carries significant risk, and if not used ethically and without limits, it can have a very negative impact on society,” says Eugenio Salas, Hub Leader, Young AI Leaders. From Bside, where Salas currently collaborates, he has found the necessary impetus to become actively involved in global initiatives such as the AI for Good Summit.

The Summit is a global platform convened by the ITU, the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies. Its main objective is to facilitate dialogue among key sectors — governments, industry, academia, and civil society — to identify and promote AI-based solutions that contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This year’s edition focused on advances, trends, and, crucially, the risks and ethical frameworks that must guide technological development. “The summit reinforced the need to rebuild the concept of AI on the foundations of justice, inclusion, and diversity, ensuring that special attention is paid to groups historically underrepresented in the tech ecosystem,” says Daniel Mancilla, Impact Leader, Young AI Leaders. Within this context, the importance of youth participation in shaping public policies and AI strategies was emphasized.

The participation of the Mexican hub in Geneva generated tangible results and outlined a strategic roadmap for the future, says Salas to MBN. The Young AI Leaders team from Mexico City gave a formal presentation to showcase the methodologies, projects, and best practices developed in Mexico. The reception was notably positive, to the point that multiple hubs from other regions requested guidance and sought to learn from the Mexican team’s practices, says Salas.

Strategic Alliances

The most significant outcome in strategic terms was the establishment of an alliance with Ashoka, a global organization with over 40 years of experience in promoting social entrepreneurship. This collaboration aims to guide, open new doors, and potentially fund projects driven by the hubs in Mexico and Colombia. Although the specific roadmap for executing joint projects is still being defined, the partnership with Ashoka represents a key catalyst that will provide the hub’s projects with greater reach and institutional visibility.

“The strategic collaboration with Ashoka is a key outcome of our participation; it will allow us to receive guidance, open new doors, and access funding to catalyze our social impact projects,” says Alejandro Montegero, Member, Young AI Leaders.

The summit was also a showcase for advanced, practical applications of AI. Hub members had the opportunity to directly interact with technologies such as AI-powered wheelchairs used for spinal rehabilitation, as well as with the humanoid robots Sophia (citizen of the United Arab Emirates) and Roberto, with whom they held brief conversations. These experiences offered a tangible glimpse into the state of the art and the applications already impacting sectors like healthcare and personal assistance.

Conclusions and Future Implications

The participation of the AI for Good Hub from Mexico City at the Geneva summit marks a turning point. The event served to validate the team’s work at an international level, formalize a high-impact alliance with Ashoka, and position its members as credible contributors to the global conversation on the future of AI.

Going forward, the hub is expected to capitalize on these new relationships to:

1. Accelerate the development of local projects with Ashoka’s methodological and financial support.

2. Strengthen Latin America’s voice in international forums by promoting an inclusive AI agenda focused on solving regional challenges.

3. Actively contribute to the creation of ethical guidelines and frameworks, incorporating lessons learned and perspectives from the Global South.

“In Geneva, our operating model was validated as a benchmark for other global hubs. This reinforces the idea that Latin America must increase its active participation, as we have the potential to contribute unique advancements and perspectives to the global AI conversation,” says Eduardo Itsin, Member, Young AI Leaders.