National governments, as well as industry and scientific communities in the Americas, are paying increasing attention to the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and algorithms as a way to spur economic and social growth, and technology innovation.

However, several concerns have also been raised over the possible unintended consequences of increasing AI use, from job losses to new privacy and safety challenges.

Cullen International’s benchmark shows whether national governments in the Americas have published or proposed specific strategies or plans on nationwide adoption of AI.

 Most of the countries covered have been discussing the need to implement a comprehensive national AI strategy. Among the monitored countries, Canada has a strategy in place, and aims to establish a set of ethical standards for AI use. Mexico proposed a national AI strategy in April 2018 but there are no further developments so far. The United States recently launched a consultation on a set of ten principles to be considered by US agencies implementing regulations on AI but there is no comprehensive US AI strategy as yet.

Several countries in the Americas are currently fostering AI initiatives and encouraging the increased use of AI in different sectors. For example, in Colombia, AI software and AI education programmes benefit from special tax exemptions, while Brazil has been considering adopting AI tools to improve efficiency in the judiciary and in public administration.

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Peru signed up to non-binding guidelines on the development and use of AI proposed by the Organisation of Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD).

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