Artificial intelligence is the new axis of global economic power. With a market projected to grow from US$189 billion in 2023 to US$4.8 trillion by 2033, this technology is expected to account for nearly 30% of all frontier technologies. This economic volume exceeds the combined GDP of South America, is twice the size of Africa’s economy, and is equivalent to more than one-fifth of the GDP of Western Europe.
The statement is striking. It serves as the starting point for the study produced by Ana Basco and Paula Garnero, Directors of Insight LAC, for the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), entitled “Opportunities and Risks of Triangular Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean.” The report argues that AI is much more than a technology; it is a transformative force that is reshaping development, production, and geopolitics.
The study explores in depth the role of triangular cooperation in building capabilities, technological sovereignty, and the ethical governance of artificial intelligence. For Latin America and the Caribbean, addressing the scenarios opened up by AI presents a clear challenge: avoiding a new form of digital dependency while at the same time seizing a historic opportunity to move toward a more equitable, sustainable, and sovereign development model.
The report focuses on a strategic tool: Triangular Cooperation between the European Union and Latin America. This approach combines technical capabilities, financing, and local knowledge so that the region can become not only a user of AI, but also a key player in its adoption, regulation, and design.
The conclusion is clear: without governance, cooperation, and technological diplomacy, the promise of AI could deepen existing inequalities. However, by embracing these elements, it becomes possible to view and leverage this technology as a genuine driver of inclusive development.
📘 The full report is available for download here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ecSzC77u and offers practical insights for shaping public policy, regulation, and international cooperation in AI.
👉 Is Latin America still in time to build technological sovereignty in artificial intelligence, or is it already falling behind?