How Prepared is Panama to Harness the Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Latin America?
Panama ranks 11th in the artificial intelligence index in Latin America: talent and research hinder its progress, according to the report presented by ECLAC.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken a significant leap forward in the world in the last year with new platforms and applied technologies that generate content, simplify processes, automate tasks and analyze data, among other functionalities. Latin America has made progress in connectivity, public policies and training, but limitations persist in transforming artificial intelligence (AI) into innovation, productivity and economic growth. The challenges and advances were published in the fourth edition of the Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA) in 2026, which has been conducted since 2023 and is prepared by ECLAC and the National Center for Artificial Intelligence (Cenia) of Chile.
“For Latin America and the Caribbean, the question is not only how to access these technologies, but how to use them strategically to address our main development challenges.” says José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of ECLAC.
The Secretary General of ECLAC, José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs pictured above, warned that a passive incorporation of AI could not only deepen dependencies, but also widen existing gaps and inequalities in the region.
The Five Gaps Facing the Region:
1
Concentrated technological capacity. Brazil accounts for 87.7% of the graphics processing units (GPUs) and 92% of the regional processing capacity considered in the study.
2
Strategies without sufficient funding. Although 85% of countries have an AI strategy in place or under development, only Brazil and Colombia have national budgets.
3
Difficulties in business adoption. The use of AI is still not sufficiently integrated into production processes, especially in smaller companies.
4
Gaps in research and advanced training. 65% of countries have specialized research centers. All have postgraduate programs, but differences persist in scientific capabilities and the development of specialized talent.
5
Connectivity that doesn’t automatically translate into innovation. The region has improved its digital access, but having internet access doesn’t equate to having the infrastructure, knowledge, and institutions necessary to develop AI.
How is Panama Doing and What are the Challenges?
Panama retains the 11th position it held in 2025 and remains in the category of AI adopting countries. The score rose from 38.95 to 39.3. The most significant lag is in governance, with 11.4 points below the regional average. This is followed by research, development, and adoption, with a difference of 6.1 points. This means that Panama has certain conditions to take advantage of artificial intelligence, but it has not yet achieved a balanced development of its ecosystem.
11th
Panama’s ranking among the 20 countries evaluated.
20.3%
of the population aged 15 to 64 actively uses generative AI.
22.6
Panama’s rating points in human capital, which measures the capacity to train and have professionals specialized in artificial intelligence.
Strengths of Panama.
The country boasts favorable digital infrastructure indicators. The average fixed broadband speed reaches 197 Mbps, the fifth highest in the region. It also ranks second regionally in certified data centers per million inhabitants, with 2.41. In terms of regulation, its framework for the protection of personal data stands out, an important basis for the development of technological applications.
Panama’s Main Challenges:
1
Specialist training: Panama scores 22.6 points in human talent, ranks 16th in professional training in AI and does not register specialized doctoral programs.
2
Research: The index identifies only one research center dedicated to AI. Panama scores 23.4 points in research, compared to a regional average of 36.2.
3
Business use: the country ranks 11th in AI adoption by businesses and last in productive sophistication.
4
Processing capacity: Data center infrastructure does not necessarily equate to having sufficient specialized computing capacity for AI.
5
Policy implementation: governance remains one of the biggest weaknesses, especially in institutional execution and coordination.
Who Leads the AI Index?
Chile, Brazil and Uruguay lead the development of artificial intelligence in Latin America, according to the Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA 2026), prepared by ECLAC and the National Center for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA) of Chile. With scores of 71.4, 68.4 and 67.0 out of 100, respectively, they are the only three countries classified as pioneers, due to their greater capabilities in technological infrastructure, talent training, research, adoption of artificial intelligence and governance. In a second group are Colombia (56.8 points), Costa Rica (56.0) and Argentina (55.6), which show important progress, although they still face challenges to consolidate their capabilities. The report reveals a marked regional gap, as only three of the 20 countries evaluated exceed 60 points, while Panama occupies position 11, with 39.3 points, below the Latin American average of 44.5.
