Google Cloud: ‘the savior’ that Central America hoped for
Google arrives in El Salvador. Smart Cities in Latam. The importance to regulate AI. Are we underestimating the potential of generative AI?
The latest news and trends in the Latin American AI startup scene.
Share your stories to ai@contxto.com.
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El Salvador in the era of AI: Is Google Cloud ‘the savior’ that Central America hoped for?
The recent announcement of Google Cloud's arrival in El Salvador has sparked interest in the country's technological and economic landscape. With El Salvador already using the US dollar as its official currency and adopting Bitcoin as a legal currency, Google Cloud's entry could position the country as a key player in the global digital market.
The stability of the economy and the growing tech ecosystem, along with Google's infrastructure support, could attract more investment. Additionally, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) could accelerate innovation in various sectors and improve Bitcoin transactions.
However, challenges include attracting foreign direct investment and addressing the skills gap in AI. The convergence of dollarization, Bitcoin, and AI presents an opportunity for El Salvador to redefine its future as a leader in innovation and digital transformation, but the equitable distribution of benefits and data sovereignty should be considered. (Contxto).
Transforming Cities in Latin America: The dream of smart cities comes true
In this interview with Roger Gonzalez, Deputy Director of Digital Technology at the Mayor's Office of Santiago de Cali, defines a smart city as one that uses information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve the quality of life of its citizens in areas such as mobility, security, health, energy, environment, education, and citizen participation.
The case of Santiago de Cali in Colombia is highlighted as a benchmark for smart cities in Latin America, which has developed its own smart city model in conjunction with various sectors.
It also highlights the interest of the government of Ecuador in defining a digital transformation route and the initiatives in the cities of Sao Paulo, Jundiaí, and Campinas in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, which have developed smart city projects in areas such as mobility, waste management, urban monitoring, and open data, making them leaders in the transformation towards smart cities in Brazil. (CIO Review)
Quick News
Intel and SONDA have announced a collaboration agreement that extends across the entire American continent, marking Intel's first commitment with a Latin American company.
The market for digital transformation in Latin America is projected to reach $207.87 billion by 2032, driven by factors such as cloud-based solutions and demand for AI and automation.
The collaboration aims to tackle technological and human challenges, benefiting startups in Latin America by creating a robust ecosystem for the adoption of emerging technologies and providing networking and financing opportunities. (Contxto)
Cloud technology renews hope for threatened species in Latin America
The Tech4Nature project is part of the Belt and Road cooperation between China and Latin America and aims to protect ecosystems using digital technology.
In Mexico, the Tech4Nature project uses cameras and acoustic technology to monitor biodiversity in the Dzilam State Reserve, while in Chile, the project helps protect the Darwin's fox through acoustic monitoring and real-time alerts. Similar initiatives have also been conducted in Costa Rica.
These projects have brought hope for a better future and have successfully identified numerous species and spotted jaguars in the reserves. (XinhuaNet)
Colombian student develops mobile app to improve welfare of dogs alone at home
A student at Universidad del Valle in Colombia has developed a mobile app and automatic food dispenser for dogs that spend a lot of time alone.
The app calculates the precise amount of food and water the dog should consume based on its weight, height, and age. It also has the ability to diagnose up to 11 diseases using artificial intelligence.
The project combines knowledge from systems engineering, electronics, and IoT. The student hopes to develop more functions in the future to monitor and treat dog diseases remotely. (Latin America Reports)
World’s Best Digital Banks 2023—Round 1
Global Finance's World's Best Digital Banks 2023 award winners, such as Citi, Eurobank, and First Abu Dhabi Bank, have embraced digitalization and implemented technologies like API connectivity, digital platforms, and automation to provide seamless services and personalized experiences.
Bancolombia, which won four Latin America regional subcategory awards, including the Best Online User Experience (UX) Portal, ensures that its digital channels are tailored to the specific stages of clients’ life cycles.
The ability to analyze vast amounts of data and provide hyper-personalization has become essential in the digital banking landscape. (Global Finance)
What Trippin’ Blue sees for Latin American denim’s future
Trippin' Blue, a virtual event for the jeanswear industry in Latin America, will hold its fifth edition from September 6 to 8, 2023.
Among the topics of discussion will be textile innovations, sustainable advancements, virtual showrooms, consumer macro trends, impact solutions, robotics, artificial intelligence, new retail formats, and process optimization through machinery. (The Spin Off)
The global payment processor market is expected to experience significant growth, with its value projected to increase from $50.87 billion in 2023 to $84.57 billion by 2028.
This growth is driven by the increasing adoption of digital payment processing and advancements in technology such as blockchain, IoT, AI, and ML.
Visa's partnership with Tribal in Latin America and the Caribbean illustrates the collaborative trend aimed at empowering small and medium-sized enterprises. (Yahoo! Finance)
How Startups Are Revolutionizing Reverse Logistics With AI
Devolut, a startup in Latin America, is aiming to revamp the inefficient reverse logistics process in the region.
Inspired by successful companies like Happy Returns, Devolut and other startups are incorporating AI algorithms to optimize operations and provide personalized product recommendations. By leveraging technology, Devolut is making a positive impact and improving the customer experience in the reverse logistics landscape.(Robots.net)
Kogni, the startup that seeks to empower Mexican companies through AI.
Kogni, a Mexican startup, aims to digitalize businesses by connecting them with AI solutions to optimize their operations and compete in a stronger and more competitive business environment.
Kogni acts as a translator of AI for companies, identifying the specific problems they face and integrating the appropriate AI solutions from their network of partners to address these challenges. (Marketing4ecommerce)
OpenAI releases enterprise-grade version of ChatGPT
OpenAI has released ChatGPT Enterprise, a version of its chatbot platform that prioritizes privacy and security for businesses.
Users of ChatGPT Enterprise will have control and ownership over their data, which will not be used to train GPT at all, addressing concerns about data privacy and usage.
The company plans to introduce more advanced analytical tools and pricing options for smaller teams in the future. (The Verge)
Artificial Intelligence at AXA
AXA is one of the largest insurance companies in the world by market cap and revenue. The company ranks as one of the top three insurers in Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.
AXA uses AI-powered skills platforms to upskill its workforce, leading to reduced staff attrition and increased employee engagement.
AXA's use of AI extends beyond business purposes, as it also contributes to financial inclusion, sustainability efforts, and health promotion. (Emerj)
AI Education
Data Structures and Optimization for Fast Algorithms Boot Camp
Taught by the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing, the boot camp is intended to acquaint program participants with the key themes of the program. It will consist of tutorial presentations from leading experts in the topics of the program.
Data Science: Machine Learning
The course covers the basics of machine learning, including popular algorithms, cross-validation to avoid overtraining, and regularization. The main focus of the course is building a movie recommendation system, using training data to train algorithms and predict outcomes for future datasets.
Master Online in Applied Artificial Intelligence
The program is designed for business professionals and covers topics such as using ChatGPT4 and BardIA, designing with AI, improving advertising campaigns, and creating impactful presentations.
Food for Thought
Steve Blank: AI will revolutionize the ‘lean startup’
Steve Blank, the inventor of the lean startup concept, believes that we are underestimating the potential of generative AI. He compares the current state of AI to a three-month-old baby, saying that we don't realize how early in its development we are.
He also mentions the advancements in AI-assisted research, such as AlphaFold, which can help understand processes in the body. Blank believes that AI will greatly influence the concept of the lean startup and is excited about the possibilities it presents. (TechCrunch)
We don’t have to reinvent the wheel to regulate AI responsibly
Daniel Marcous, co-founder and CTO of april, and previously the CTO of Waze, discusses the increasing importance of regulation in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
The article suggests that existing regulatory frameworks, such as those governing the internet, can serve as a model for AI regulation. It proposes the adoption of SSL-like certification standards governed by independent certificate authorities to protect consumers while allowing for innovation. (TechCrunch)
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