Countries across Latin America and the Caribbean have strengthened their commitment to responsible artificial intelligence (AI) governance with the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration and a Regional Roadmap for 2026–2027 at the Third Ministerial Summit and High-Level Authorities Meeting on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Organised by UNESCO, the Government of the Dominican Republic, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), and supported by the European Union, the summit brought together government representatives, international organisations, academia, civil society, industry and the technical community to advance the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence—the world's first global normative framework on AI, endorsed by all 194 UNESCO Member States.
The newly adopted roadmap marks a shift from establishing common principles to implementing concrete actions. It outlines regional priorities for 2026–2027, including enhanced technical cooperation, knowledge sharing and stronger institutional capabilities to support ethical and responsible AI deployment across member countries.
Participants recognised AI as a cross-sector public policy issue extending beyond technology. The roadmap calls for closer collaboration among ministries responsible for education, healthcare, economy, justice, culture, environment and public administration to ensure AI strategies are inclusive, transparent and aligned with national development priorities.
A major focus of the summit was education and capacity building. Member States agreed to expand digital literacy initiatives, strengthen AI-related skills for the future workforce and provide specialised training for public officials, educators, researchers, journalists, judicial professionals and businesses. Leaders emphasised that equipping citizens with AI knowledge and critical thinking skills will be essential to reducing inequalities and enabling meaningful participation in AI governance.
The summit also highlighted the importance of integrating environmental sustainability into AI development, encouraging technologies that support climate action and responsible resource management. Participating countries reaffirmed their commitment to permanent regional cooperation mechanisms, aiming to establish a stronger and more unified Latin American and Caribbean voice in global discussions on AI governance.
