AI is increasingly present in classrooms across Latin America and the Caribbean, being applied creatively to support learning rather than replace teachers. From literacy tools using speech recognition to platforms that personalize instruction, educators are leveraging AI to strengthen pedagogy and enhance student outcomes. A significant number of initiatives focus on inclusion, targeting students with disabilities, diverse learning needs, and vulnerable educational trajectories, demonstrating the potential of AI to reduce gaps and expand access.
The region faces challenges in responsible and scalable AI implementation. While many initiatives acknowledge ethical risks and the need for evidence, few are rigorously evaluated or have robust safeguards in place. This highlights the importance of governance frameworks, teacher training, and effective data systems to ensure AI tools are deployed safely and equitably.
The Inter-American Development Bank’s “AI Here!” (¡IA Presente!) initiative provides the first regional snapshot of AI in classrooms, moving beyond theory to real-world applications. In partnership with Ceibal and implemented by Socialab, the initiative invited schools, universities, NGOs, and startups to present AI solutions already deployed in classrooms. A total of 193 initiatives across 22 countries were submitted, spanning adaptive learning tools, intelligent school management systems, and innovative hybrid AI solutions tailored to local contexts.
The evidence from these submissions shows that AI is already boosting learning inside classrooms, with more than half of initiatives focused on enhancing instruction through adaptive platforms, gamified learning, and teacher-assist tools. Over a quarter of solutions target inclusion, supporting students in underserved areas, with disabilities, or socio-emotional needs. However, AI applications at the school management or system level remain limited, representing an important frontier for future innovation.
Technically, the region is developing hybrid and context-sensitive AI systems rather than simply importing existing models. Many initiatives combine multiple AI modalities, including generative AI, language models, natural language processing, image and video recognition, and speech recognition, demonstrating a capacity for localized innovation.
Two key challenges remain for policymakers and education leaders. First, ethical and responsible AI use is not yet fully realized: while many submissions recognize algorithmic bias, few outline concrete mitigation strategies or principles like transparency and explainability. Second, rigorous evidence of impact is limited. While most initiatives report some form of evaluation, few conduct comprehensive studies, making it critical to strengthen evaluation practices before scaling tools widely.
This mapping of 193 initiatives shows that Latin America and the Caribbean are transitioning from discussion to action, implementing AI solutions in real classrooms. The priority now is to scale effective tools, learn from failures, and ensure AI serves all students equitably, making the technology a true driver of an inclusive and sustainable education transformation.
