Latin America is living a key moment: artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a future promise, but a tool that is beginning to transform the economy, education and public services. The Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA) 2025prepared by ECLAC and the National Center for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA), evaluated 19 countries in the region and shows a clear picture: Chile, Brazil and Mexico are the pioneers in the development and adoption of this technology.

The study measures three dimensions - capabilities and resources, research and adoption, and governance - and uses more than 100 indicators to map the regional landscape. According to the results, Chile, Brazil and Mexico make up the group of "pioneers", with active policies, investment in talent and a clear strategy to incorporate AI in different sectors. They are followed by "adopter" countries such as Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia, which are making steady progress, and a third group that is just beginning to explore its potential.

The use of generative AI in the region is growing at an astonishing rate: in the first half of 2025 alone there were about 280 million downloads of AI-based mobile applications and more than 2.6 billion hours of usagereflecting massive adoption from the everyday world. However, the challenges remain great. There is a lack of quality open data, trained specialists and consistent regulation to accompany technological development without slowing down innovation.

The report also highlights the importance of importance of sustainabilityThe report also highlights the importance of sustainability, noting that countries should promote data centers with clean energy and policies that reduce the environmental footprint of AI systems. In this sense, Chile is consolidated as a regional benchmark for integrating green criteria in its digital infrastructure.

Finally, encouraging signs of technological sovereignty are emerging: projects such as LatamGPTa language model trained "in and for" Latin America, seek to strengthen the region's digital and linguistic identity in the face of major global developments.

In short, AI is advancing strongly in Latin America, but its success will depend on more than technological innovation: it will require cooperation, talent development and a shared vision so that the digital leap is also a sustainable one.

Review the full report here. 

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Source: ECLAC