Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index Published: Debates on Human Agency Continue

The National Center for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA) of Chile and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) published the fourth Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA) on October 20, 2026. In the index, which measures the readiness level of 20 countries for artificial intelligence integration, Chile ranked first, followed by Brazil and Uruguay.

According to the index results, 85% of the countries examined have established or are in the process of developing national artificial intelligence strategies. Furthermore, 11 out of 20 countries have included artificial intelligence-related content in their school curricula. However, the report's author, Carlos Cantero Ojeda, warned that excessive dependence on digital platforms and generative artificial intelligence could lead to a condition he defines as 'agency starvation'.

Assessment: Cantero Ojeda argues that while artificial intelligence can enhance human capacity, individuals surrendering to systems without understanding the decision-making processes could weaken human agency. Emphasizing that responsibility must remain with humans in critical areas such as social welfare and legal processes, the author proposes an 'Eco-Ethical-Systemic-Relational' approach. These discussions parallel ongoing legal battles aimed at protecting human responsibility in algorithmic systems, such as the rulings against Meta and YouTube in 2026.