WILLEMSTAD - Recently, Colombia hosted a Ministerial Summit on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Cartagena. The aim of the summit was to create a regional approach to the development of AI across Latin America and the Caribbean. Ministers from 22 countries in the region, along with senior officials from regional organizations, gathered to discuss AI, its implications, and the opportunities it presents. Over the course of two days, participants exchanged ideas and engaged with experts who delved into topics such as AI ecosystems, education and AI, and governance for AI.
Curaçao had strong representation at the summit. Minister of Economic Development, Ruisandro Cijntje, took part in the roundtable on AI ecosystems, where he shared insights into what is needed and what is already in place in Curaçao. Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, Sithree van Heydoorn, participated in the roundtable on AI in education, presenting the ongoing efforts and challenges faced by Curaçao. The President of Parliament was also involved, recognizing the important legislative role Parliament must play in shaping AI governance.
AI is a reality we cannot ignore, and it is here to stay. We must be aware of it, facilitate its use, and simultaneously protect our society from its potential risks. Therefore, it is essential to create the ecosystem needed for its proper use and even creation, ensuring its integration into education and its structured presence in society through a national strategy, regulation, and supervision, so that it remains a constructive and beneficial tool. This was the core message of the Ministerial Summit.
AI was instrumental in the Dutch childcare benefits scandal. Dutch professor (and former member of the Tweede Kamer) at Javeriana University in Colombia, Esther van Egerschot-Montoya Martinez, highlighted how AI can go terribly wrong, referencing the scandal that unfolded in the Netherlands in 2021. In this case, AI was partly responsible for identifying 25,000 individuals as fraudsters in the childcare benefits system, labeling them as scammers and brutally demanding repayment. This led to extreme consequences such as evictions, suicides, broken families, and ultimately the dissolution of the Rutte III cabinet. "AI bias can occur in various other processes too, such as job applications where AI evaluates candidates, bringing with it potential consequences," said telecommunications and regulation expert Shernon Osepa. "It is crucial to look at AI holistically, and we must ensure that the human element, with its emotional touch, remains involved, as AI itself lacks emotion."
In addition to participating in the mentioned activities, Minister Cijntje also held a conversation with Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas, the Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Mr. Lamanauskas emphasized that although Curaçao is not a direct member of the ITU, he would keep the minister informed about global AI developments that could benefit the economic sector. Minister Cijntje also joined other ministers at a European Union session, where they discussed how the union could contribute to AI development through funding opportunities.
Curaçao, as a small island, must unite with other countries to stay at the forefront of developments. “We need to make this topic a matter of discussion and establish a position as a country regarding AI developments. Through the public-private platform Smart Nation Platform Curaçao, we will pursue an inclusive and concrete path, developing national management strategies and implementing them,” Minister Cijntje stated at the Summit.
At the conclusion of the summit, all participating countries adopted a Ministerial Declaration on AI. The next meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean will be held in Uruguay in November 2024.