Costa Rica Hosts First Regional AI Policy Dialogue to Guide Safe, Ethical Adoption

For Costa Rica, hosting this forum is an opportunity to demonstrate regional leadership and reinforce that AI should always serve people first.

Costa Rica has taken a leading role in shaping the digital future of Latin America and the Caribbean by hosting the first Regional Public Policy Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence, held on December 4 and 5. Organized jointly by the Government of Costa Rica and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the event marks a milestone for the region as countries seek to develop shared standards and policy frameworks for the responsible and citizen-centered use of artificial intelligence (AI).

More than 20 national delegations—including ministers, regulators, international experts, business leaders, and academics—gathered for a high-level conversation on how AI is transforming public administration and how governments can adopt it safely, ethically, and effectively.

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Building a Regional Roadmap for Responsible AI

The main goal of the dialogue is to advance a regional roadmap for public-sector AI adoption, emphasizing:

• Transparency and explainability

• Ethical and responsible data use

• Protection of citizens’ rights

• Reduction of structural inequalities

• Strengthening trust and accountability

Delegations are working in subregional technical groups—Southern Cone, Andean Region, Central America, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and the Caribbean—to identify shared priorities, exchange lessons learned, and define coordinated actions for the coming years.

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Costa Rica Reaffirms Its Commitment to Human-Centered AI

For Costa Rica, hosting this forum is an opportunity to demonstrate regional leadership and reinforce that AI should always serve people first. The country’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, led by MICITT, positions AI as a tool to:

• Modernize public institutions

• Improve local development

• Enhance transparency and open government

• Reduce inequality

• Strengthen governance and ethical oversight

“Artificial intelligence must always be at the service of people,” said Paula Bogantes Zamora, Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications. “This space allows us to move forward with sister countries on a shared roadmap for responsible, safe, and citizen-oriented AI.”

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AI as a Driver of State Modernization

Throughout the meeting, participants explored real-world applications of AI in:

• Healthcare (diagnostic support, telemedicine, predictive analytics)

• Justice systems (case management, document review, fraud detection)

• Public safety (early warning systems, crime prevention models)

• Administrative services (automation, digital identity, public records)

The IDB, OECD, IDB Lab, and ALETI presented tools, governance frameworks, and international experiences for managing the ethical risks of AI, including:

• Algorithmic transparency

• Bias detection and mitigation

• Responsible data governance

• Regulatory oversight models

“Artificial intelligence is already improving the lives of thousands of people in the region,” said Francisco Javier Urra, IDB Representative in Costa Rica. “Regional spaces like this allow us to learn from each other, align standards, and ensure AI is used to reduce inequalities and strengthen the State’s capacity to serve.”

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A Defining Moment for the Region’s Digital Transformation

The Dialogue signals growing regional consensus on the need for evidence-based, adaptive public policies to guide AI adoption in government. As Latin America faces the dual challenge of serving growing populations with limited public budgets, AI offers a critical opportunity to enhance efficiency, productivity, and inclusion.

The IDB highlighted that more than 100 AI projects it supports across the region show:

• Increased productivity among public officials

• Improved quality and speed of public services

• Greater transparency and reduced corruption risks

• Enhanced ability to target social programs and manage crises

“We stand alongside all Latin American and Caribbean countries that want to implement AI strategies and strengthen the region’s human capital,” said Emilio Pineda, Manager of Institutions for Development at the IDB.

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Looking Ahead

Technical sessions, cross-country meetings, and expert presentations will continue throughout the dialogue. These discussions will help shape the foundations of a regional AI governance architecture, ensuring that technological progress is pursued alongside robust rights protection, institutional strengthening, and democratic accountability.

Costa Rica’s hosting of the event sets an important benchmark for the region as it moves collectively toward a digital future grounded in ethics, inclusion, and sustainable development.