Brazil is yet to fully explore commercial use of AI, specialist says

Brazil stands atop the ranking of Latin American nations releasing the highest number of publications on artificial intelligence (AI). The country is followed by Mexico and Colombia, as per the report The Brazilian Landscape of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Artificial Intelligence, by the Center for Management and Strategic Studies (CGEE), a nonprofit overseen by the Ministry of Science.

Published last week, the study shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced Brazilian production when critical developments in AI allowed the emergence of major language models.

Data for 2023 indicate that Brazil retains its leadership in Latin America, but has fallen from 15th to 20th place in the world ranking of AI publications. China (1st) and the US (2nd) remained in the lead, with India snatching third place from Japan that year.

Brazil currently has 144 research institutions dealing with AI. Industry and manufacturing lead the way with 30, closely followed by health care, with 25. Corporate and management applications account for 20, while mobility and logistics are the focus of 15 institutions.

According to the research, this highlights the potential of AI as a catalyst for technological and economic development in Brazil. The document shows key AI initiatives in sectors such as life sciences, energy, and agriculture.

“This shows we really do have a robust scientific knowledge base on AI that’s on the grow. It slowed down after the pandemic, true, but it still provides us a solid basis for developing applied AI solutions and even for generating the foundation for AI models,” said one of the authors of the study and director of CGEE, Caetano Penna.

Caetano Penna, director of CGEE – Bruno Peres / Agência Brasil

Challenges

In an interview with Agência Brasil, Penna said the study confirms the potential of the Brazilian AI Plan and helps Brazil overcome its challenges. “What we found are challenges that are being addressed and potentially solved through this coordinated action and effective implementation of the plan,” he stated.

One of these challenges, he argued, is using this knowledge for commercial purposes or in the public sector, precisely in order to achieve the objectives set by the Brazilian plan.

“One of our perceptions is that nations like the Netherlands, others in the European Union, and the European Union itself face similar challenges. These nations are not fighting and racing in this contest between China and the US for AI dominance. We’re still moving up. That’s why we can work together on common problems. This report aims to open Brazil’s doors to the world so we can see what Brazil’s potential and vision are for the development and use of responsible, ethical AI that improves people’s well-being,” Penna affirmed.