Panel during Tech Day 2025 Medellín, a space where leaders of the technology industry shared their experiences on the adoption of AI in the region.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has ceased to be a futuristic topic and has become a reality that permeates organizations. But its adoption has not been homogeneous: while some companies are already building advanced agent systems, others are only experimenting with pilots. In a recent panel, leaders from different companies shared their views on how AI is transforming business and what challenges our region faces.
From Curiosity to Paradigm
The conversation began with a review of the evolution of AI usage in organizations. At first, curiosity and proof-of-concept projects prevailed. Over time, the need for a strategic vision emerged. Today, the integration of intelligent agents and copiloting models is enabling a shift from isolated impacts to systemic transformations that seek efficiency, shared knowledge, and new forms of hybrid work.
Change in the Commercial Area
From a commercial perspective, AI is revolutionizing the way companies sell. Eighty percent of prospecting processes, proposal analysis, and RFP responses are already supported by artificial intelligence. The goal is not only to streamline tasks but also to be more consultative and proactive: anticipating client needs rather than waiting for them to present a problem.
A Critical Look from Latin America
However, adoption in the region is uneven. One panelist noted that in Latin America we often don’t create but instead adopt what comes from abroad. With 37% of the population still lacking internet access, the benefits of AI risk being concentrated in large cities. Moreover, 70% of AI pilots in the past year have failed, partly due to a lack of cultural adaptation and by following international “recipes” without considering local realities.
Culture, Trust, and Adoption
The discussion also revolved around organizational culture. AI demands trust—both within companies and from their clients. Executives agreed that it is not enough to simply enable tools like ChatGPT or Copilot; training, experimentation, and a mindset shift are required. Trust is not built overnight, but it is essential for AI to be perceived not as a risk but as an ally.
Challenges and Opportunities for the Region
Among the main challenges are:
- Unequal access to technology: not all users have the same opportunities to benefit from it.
- Bias in models: if AI design teams are not diverse, algorithms replicate prejudices.
- Critical judgment: more discipline is needed in validating results, avoiding blind reliance on automatic responses.
Yet, there are also enormous opportunities. Cases in Peru and Argentina show how AI can bring microcredits and financial inclusion to excluded communities, granting dignity and access to services that were previously unthinkable.
AI with Purpose
Finally, all agreed that artificial intelligence does not define a purpose by itself: organizations and people are the ones who establish it. The key is to design solutions that combine the best of the digital and the human, generating value without losing critical judgment. In the words of the panelists, this is a paradigm shift: not just a new technology, but a different way of seeing the world【videoplayback (1)】.
📌 Conclusion: AI opens enormous possibilities, but its adoption in Latin America requires a critical and responsible approach. It is not enough to import models; we need solutions with their own identity, inclusive and designed to generate trust. Only then can we speak of artificial intelligence with true purpose.
