Chile leads the Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA) 2024

Chile has topped the Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA 2024) with a score of 73.07, reflecting strong preparedness for AI technology. Following are Brazil and Uruguay. The index evaluates 19 countries based on levels of AI talent, governance, and infrastructure. While the region has shown improvement in AI talent concentration, challenges such as gender equity in AI and talent retention persist.

The second edition of the Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA 2024), presented by Chile’s National Center for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), reveals that Chile leads the region in terms of preparedness for Artificial Intelligence (AI). With a score of 73.07 points out of a total of 100, Chile is followed closely by Brazil (69.30 points) and Uruguay (64.98 points). This year’s index evaluated 19 countries across various dimensions, such as technological infrastructure, human talent development, and governance. While the concentration of AI talent in the workforce has doubled over the past eight years in Latin America, it still lags behind that of the Global North.

The results indicate significant advances in AI technology adoption and strategy orientation among the leading countries. Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation of Chile, Aisén Etcheverry, expressed the importance of the index in shaping effective policies for AI deployment, noting the rapid evolution of information consumption and young people’s concerns regarding AI’s impact on employment.

ECLAC’s Acting Deputy Executive Secretary, Javier Medina Vásquez, highlighted AI’s potential as a catalyst for innovation in critical sectors, although he warned of the risk of widening socioeconomic gaps without proactive measures in investment and regulation. The European Union’s Ambassador to Chile, Claudia Gintersdorfer, underscored the significance of cooperation in digital transformation, especially regarding AI.

The report reveals that Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay exhibit considerable maturity concerning AI frameworks, although challenges persist, particularly in enhancing the role of women in AI and retaining talented personnel. The study also emphasizes the need for ongoing resource allocation to support AI development across various domains in Chile’s economy. Given their progress, the three leading countries are well-positioned to leverage AI for sustainable growth and innovation.

The Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA) serves as a benchmarking tool to assess and compare countries in Latin America and the Caribbean regarding their readiness and ability to adopt AI technologies. The index provides valuable insights into various dimensions, such as technological infrastructure, research and development, and governance. The second edition, ILIA 2024, was conducted in a context where countries in the region are intensifying efforts to integrate AI into their economic and social frameworks to foster innovation and address pressing issues across sectors like health and education. The report is pivotal for informing policy decisions and understanding the regional landscape of AI development and capabilities.

The Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation of Chile, Aisén Etcheverry stated that “Having an index of this kind helps us move forward with sound policies and is critical for the success of these strategies.”

For ECLAC’s Acting Deputy Executive Secretary, Javier Medina Vásquez, “The new technological revolution, marked by artificial intelligence, has the potential to become a key driver for overcoming the development traps in which Latin America and the Caribbean is mired.”

“The EU-LAC Digital Alliance promotes our two regions’ joint interest in a digital transformation model centered on human beings,” Ambassador of the European Union in Chile, Claudia Gintersdorfer emphasised.

Rodrigo Durán, manager of CENIA said, “The incorporation of generative AI tools into the work done by people who perform the 100 most important jobs in Chile… could mean an increase of 1.21 percentage points of current growth…”

Overall, the ILIA 2024 highlights Chile as the frontrunner in AI readiness in Latin America, catalyzed by significant investment in technological advancement and talent development. However, challenges remain in ensuring inclusive participation, particularly among women, and in retaining essential human resources within the region.

The findings underscore the necessity of collaborative efforts and sustained investment to harness the potential of AI for the benefit of economic and social outcomes in Latin America. Countries like Brazil and Uruguay also show promise, yet they face their own unique challenges. The insights derived from this index will be critical for shaping future AI strategies in the region.