Colombia Hosts CEPAL Conference on Science, Innovation and ICT

Bogota is hosting the IV Science, Innovation and ICT conference, an event organized by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) in collaboration with the government of Colombia. The event started on April 04 and serves as a platform for discussing key areas of cooperation and strategic priorities outlined in the regional agenda for the period 2024–2025.

The conference is led by the President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Yesenia Olaya, the Secretary of CEPAL, Luis Yáñez, and the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Colombia, Mireia Villar, along with top scientists from Latin America.

President Petro Addresses AI at CEPAL Conference

President Petro inaugurated the event, highlighting its central theme of “science, technology, and innovation for productive development.” In his address, he underscored the pivotal role of science and technology in global discourse, emphasizing that it encompasses more than just the climate crisis. Notably, a significant portion of his speech focused on artificial intelligence, with President Petro stating, “AI, as a technology applied to increase profits, is already creating a new society.”

Moreover, he emphasized the significance of AI in enhancing productivity while acknowledging its inability to fully replace human labor. President Petro remarked, “Perhaps the only entity capable of surpassing artificial intelligence is art. What defines art? It’s the sublime sensitivity, the pure creation of a historical moment, a soul. AI cannot do this, that is where humans specifically can dominate.”

Additional topics slated for discussion include a structural examination of Latin America’s socioeconomic landscape, opportunities for sustainable development, a scientific and technical analysis of each country’s unique challenges, the possibilities of strategic investment, and how the private and public sectors can serve people in the territories.

A seminar on technology and innovation for sustainable development in Latin America will be led by Carlos Pietrobelli, professor of the UNESCO Chair in Science Policies. At the end of the conference, which is being held at the Gran Hyat Hotel, CEPAL, and the Colombian government will discuss the approval of the agreements regarding priority problems for the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

What is Cepal?

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) aims to contribute to the economic development of the region, as well as coordinate actions aimed at the promotion and strengthening of the economic relations among its countries. Furthermore, this organization seeks to promote the governance of natural resources to maximize their contribution to the region’s development.