Overcoming Development Traps in Latin America and the Caribbean in the Digital Age: The Transformative Potential of Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence
This institutional document by ECLAC examines how digital technologies and artificial intelligence can help Latin America and the Caribbean overcome three structural development traps: low growth capacity, high inequality, and weak governance. It explores the transformative potential of digitalization to boost productivity, improve skills and connectivity, and strengthen institutional capabilities. Additionally, the publication provides an overview of regional digital strategies and recommendations to guide policies toward a digital agenda with targets for 2026.
Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.
Who issued it
Who it governs
Policymakers, researchers, and public sector officials looking to understand how digital technologies and AI can address structural development traps in Latin America and the Caribbean.
What the document contains
The document addresses the structural development challenges of Latin America and the Caribbean and explores how digital technologies and artificial intelligence can enhance productivity, improve skills and infrastructure, strengthen governance, and inform regional digital strategies and policy agendas.
Readers will not find binding legal regulations, explicit enforcement mechanisms, technical safety standards, or detailed AI definitions.
- Latin America and the Caribbean faces structural development traps involving low growth, high inequality, and low institutional capacity.
- Digital transformation and artificial intelligence offer a unique opportunity to break the vicious circle of productive stagnation and social exclusion.
- Digitalization can catalyse productivity improvements, reduce inequality, and strengthen regional institutional capacities.
- Preliminary figures indicate that AI's influence on economic growth and the labour market will significantly increase in coming years.
- The document presents recommendations and digital strategies to guide the design of policies for a regional digital agenda targeting 2026.
· Foreword · Introduction · Chapter I. The productivity challenge in Latin America and the Caribbean: how digital technologies and artificial intelligence can be a crucial component of change · Chapter II. Skills, connectivity and infrastructure: key factors for harnessing the digital transformation and artificial intelligence to overcome inequality and low social mobility and cohesion · Chapter III. Digitalization as a vehicle for strengthening institutional and governance capacities · Chapter IV. Towards a productive, inclusive and sustainable digital future: agendas, strategies and policies.
How it scores
Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.
Accountability
0/5Clear responsibility for AI outcomes
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-23
Fairness
2/5Non-discrimination and equitable treatment
reduce inequality gaps and strengthen institutional capacities in the region
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-23
Human Dignity
0/5Respect for the inherent worth of persons
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-23
Human Oversight
0/5Humans remain in control of consequential decisions
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-23
Privacy
0/5Protection of personal data and private life
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-23
Transparency
0/5Openness about how AI systems work and are used
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-23
Enforcement
0/5Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-23
Impact Assessment
0/5Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use
Abstract
screening score · 2026-10-23