Artificial Intelligence, protagonist at Informática 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI), its use and main results are the focus of today’s debates at the 19th International Convention and Fair Informática 2024.

Yailé Caballero Mota, director of International Relations at the University of Camagüey, spoke on Wednesday about this tool which, in her opinion, is still a challenge for Cuba.

There is no digital transformation without AI and its use has yielded more positive than negative results, she said.

We are facing a booming technology characterized by a great transforming potential from a technological, economic, environmental and social point of view, given its possible insertion in all sectors and its high capacity for impact, rapid growth and contribution to the improvement of competitiveness, explained the expert.

We have to take the leap to apply AI in an ethical and responsible way, beyond the fears of mistakes that may be made, he said.

To this end, she emphasized, we need to train not only specialists in computer science, but also in all spheres of knowledge.

According to Caballero Mota, the largest of the Caribbean islands is already showing results from the application of AI, as there is a community of researchers in universities and scientific centers that are contributing to the generation of knowledge in this area.

Entities such as BioCubaFarma in bioinformatics, Datys in video surveillance and cybersecurity, Softel with health applications and GeoCuba through precision agriculture.

Despite these advances, there are still few products and services as a result of AI, said the director of International Relations of the University of Camagüey.

There are 18 national programs related to the use of this technology, including the Automation, Robotics and AI program, the Telecommunications and Informatization of Society program, the National Program for Integral and Sustainable Energy Development, the Neurosciences and Neurotechnologies program, the Basic and Natural Sciences program, and the Logistics and Supply Chain Development program.

Caballero Mota has identified some problems to be solved, especially the identification of AI as an enabling technology for digital transformation in terms of economic development.

She also pointed out that the use of the tool in decision making is not yet fully perceived and that there is still a lack of a clear policy on data management.

La especialista enfatizó en el llamado de Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, Primer Secretario del Comité Central del Partido Comunista de Cuba y Presidente de la República, a la elaboración de una estrategia para el desarrollo de la IA para lograr materializar el papel vital que esta tiene dentro de la transformación digital del país y en áreas estratégicas.

Varias universidades, empresas y Organismos de la Administración del Estado trabajan en función de esa normativa.

Este miércoles Rodney Taylor, secretario general de la Unión de Telecomunicaciones del Caribe, también dialogó sobre la IA, con su conferencia magistral “Navegando por el horizonte de la IA: oportunidades y amenazas para los pequeños estados en desarrollo del Caribe”.

Taylor insistió en la capacitación de los jóvenes para el uso de esa herramienta y que la región cuenta con mecanismos para ello.