Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment of Mexico

By Goodrich, Riquelme y Asociados

UNESCO launched the Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment of Mexico, developed in collaboration with the National Alliance for Artificial Intelligence (ANIA), with the support of the Centro-i for the Society of the Future (Centro-i).

One of the strengths highlighted in the document is that Mexico ranked third in technology in Latin America in the 2023 Government AI Readiness Index. 

Venture capital invested in AI was 150 million dollars as of September 2023, less than the 170 million dollars for the food and beverage industry. But Mexico can improve its revenues by international projecting because its high-tech exports already exceed 14.2%, ranking ninth in the world, and has high professional technical and research capacity.

For example, it registered the highest number of computer science or related master's programs graduates in 2022 in the Latin America and Caribbean region; it ranks sixth in research personnel working specifically in AI, and along with Brazil, they accumulated 95% of AI patents.

Mexico also has a solid regulatory framework for privacy, transparency, and access to information rights. Even if it does not have a specific law or policy for addressing and repairing damages caused by AI systems or for digital contexts, it can tackle several cases by current standards and mechanisms.

"Mexico could establish itself as a regional reference in governance due to the ethical and effective development of artificial intelligence by engaging in institutional design, including mapping its ecosystem and a specific legal framework, and achieving the issuance of a National Strategy integrated into its National Development Plan, a challenge in which UNESCO can cooperate," stated Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO.