Executive Summary
The Declaration of Santiago (2023) reflects a unified commitment by Latin American and Caribbean nations to promote ethical, inclusive, and human rights-based development and governance of artificial intelligence (AI) in the region. Recognizing both the opportunities and risks of AI, the declaration emphasizes the need for strategic regulation, regional cooperation, and the integration of local cultural perspectives. Key actions include establishing a regional working group, led by Chile, to lay the groundwork for an intergovernmental AI council, and leveraging UNESCO’s ethical guidelines. The declaration calls for inclusive policy-making, capacity-building, investment, and safeguards to address social inequalities, protect vulnerable groups, and ensure responsible AI use. It also highlights the importance of data governance, innovation, and collaboration among governments, private sector, academia, and civil society to maximize AI’s benefits while mitigating its risks.
Characteristics
- The 2023 Declaration of Santiago focuses on promoting ethical artificial intelligence (AI) in Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing human rights, inclusion, and regional cooperation.
- It calls for the creation of a regional intergovernmental AI Council, led initially by Chile, to coordinate strategies, regulations, and capacity-building aligned with UNESCO’s AI ethics recommendations.
- The declaration highlights the need for inclusive, sustainable, and culturally relevant AI development, addressing risks such as discrimination, privacy, and inequality, and ensuring broad stakeholder participation.
- It stresses the importance of public policies that ensure transparency, accountability, gender equity, data protection, and responsible innovation, while fostering investment, education, and digital skills.
- The document urges monitoring AI’s impact on labor, supporting vulnerable groups, and promoting regional autonomy in AI governance, data sharing, and infrastructure collaboration.
Actors
Civil Society Actors
Economic Actors
Political Actors
Research and Innovation Actors
Practical Applications
- Establishment of a Group of Work (Grupo de Trabajo) with the aim of constituting an Intergovernmental Council on Artificial Intelligence for Latin America and the Caribbean, under the framework of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, to strengthen regional capacities in this area.
- Appointment of the Republic of Chile to lead the Group of Work, with a mandate to convene a working meeting during the first half of 2024; participating countries are to designate a focal point for this process.
- Ongoing technical and financial support from UNESCO and CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean) for the Group of Work for a period of two years.
- Recognition of the technical and financial support provided by UNESCO and CAF for the organization and execution of the ministerial meeting and for fostering discussions and exchange of best practices on AI in the region.
- Active implementation of national public policy initiatives in some countries of the region, focusing on ethics, regulation, talent development, and infrastructure for the deployment of AI technology.
- Use of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, including its Readiness Assessment Methodology and Ethical Impact Assessment Methodology, as guiding tools for the design and implementation of national AI policies, plans, and strategies.
- Commitment to promote multi-stakeholder participation in the design and implementation of public policies, plans, and strategies related to AI.
- Encouragement of collaboration and shared use of infrastructure and computing capacity resources in the context of AI among countries in the region.
Resulting Commitments
- The Republic of Chile will convene a meeting of the regional AI Working Group in the first half of 2024.
- UNESCO and CAF are to be evaluated for maintaining support to the AI Working Group for a period of two (2) years.
Technical Details
Scope
Regional
Lead Country
Chile (CHL)
Policy & Strategic Alignment
EU Policy Alignment
SDG Alignment
Beneficiary Groups
Indigenous Communities
Indigenous Peoples & Ethnic Groups
Migrants
Migrants & Refugees
Small and Medium Enterprises
SMEs / Businesses
Students
Students & Youth
Youth
Students & Youth
Vulnerable
Uncategorised
Women in Tech
Women & Girls
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
AI Capacity Building and Public Awareness
National governments, educational institutions
Education and Capacity Building
Analysis and Adoption of AI Legal and Regulatory Frameworks
National governments
Artificial Intelligence Regulation
Convening of AI Working Group Meeting
República de Chile
Artificial Intelligence Governance
Development and Implementation of AI Policies and Institutional Frameworks
National governments
Artificial Intelligence Policy
Establishment of AI Intergovernmental Council Working Group
República de Chile (to lead), participating countries
Artificial Intelligence Governance
Monitoring AI Impact on Labor and Vulnerable Groups
National governments, labor ministries
Labor and Social Protection
Promotion of AI Investment and Innovation
National governments, private sector
Investment and Innovation
Promotion of Inclusive and Gender-Equitable AI
National governments
Social Inclusion and Gender
Promotion of Secure and Ethical Data Exchange Mechanisms
National governments, data protection authorities
Data Governance
UNESCO and CAF Support for AI Working Group
AI Working Group, UNESCO, CAF
Artificial Intelligence Governance