Mexico’s ICT Sector Faces Stagnation

Mexico’s information and communication technology (ICT) companies report slow growth in the face of an expected economic recession and possible dot.com bubble. Meanwhile, industry leaders consider the disruptive power of artificial intelligence, applications to combat gendered violence and women’s role in building a digital economy.

In international news, outdated software represents a prevalent—and preventable—pain point for organizations.

This week in Tech news and developments:

Mexico

Growth of ICT Sector Slows Down

Mexico’s economic recovery is slowing down, delaying the growth of the ICT sector, reports business and technology consulting firm Select on its quarterly Technology and Business Report. 

Industry

What Is Artificial Intelligence?

As artificial intelligence permeates more sectors, individuals and companies have to be prepared to capitalize on this technology. “Artificial intelligence is a discovery that has become one of our most important resources to improve, to unimagined degrees, each of the tasks we carry out daily. That is why it is necessary to understand how it works and use it to our advantage and make the most of this powerful technological tool,” said David Casillas, CEO, NYX Technology and Pixframe Studios.

Using Analytics, Artificial Intelligence to Fight Violence Against Women

“Analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning stand to make important contributions to combating feminicide and gender-based violence,” said Hector Cobo, Regional VP, SAS. Companies like SAS provide the technological foundation to automate the analysis of large volumes of criminal data, helping to better examine algorithms and identify new risk indicators in record time.

Women and the Digital Economy

A country that includes its women in the economy is more competitive, explained Melina Cruz Villafaña, CEO, Homely. “However, in Mexico, women face various barriers; not only to entering but to staying and growing in the labor market regardless of the industry in which they work,” said Villafaña.

International

LatAm Companies Must Eliminate the Use of Obsolete Software

Latin American companies are especially vulnerable to ransomware attacks due to the continued use of obsolete software in their IT infrastructure. It is a vulnerability that can be easily circumvented and it rests with creating a culture of routine updating and patching, said Claudio Martinelli, Managing Director LATAM, Kaspersky.

Bright Future on the Horizon for Entertainment, Media

While the COVID-19 pandemic brought uncertainty to public health, supply chains, and geopolitics, it also brought greater clarity to the entertainment and media (E&M) market. However, growth patterns mask underlying volatility, thereby indicating that its observed growth might not be sustainable.