Leaders from more than 20 countries met at a ministerial summit in the Dominican Republic on 25–26 June and adopted the Santo Domingo Declaration on AI ethics. UNESCO and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean supported the summit and the regional initiative.
The declaration proposes a 2026–2027 roadmap based on five strategic pillars: governance and regulation; talent and the future of work; protection of vulnerable groups; environment, sustainability and climate change; and infrastructure. The document also creates a regional working group of specialists on disinformation and AI.
Speakers warned about specific risks: technology can outpace regulation, creating dangers such as algorithmic bias, job loss and environmental impacts from digital infrastructure. Experts said regional agreements are important and stressed the need to improve digital literacy and address misinformation from generative AI.
Difficult words
- declaration — official public statement by people or organisations
- roadmap — plan with steps and dates for actions
- governance — rules and decisions for managing a system
- vulnerable — at risk of harm or negative effects
- infrastructure — basic systems and services for a society
- disinformation — false information spread to mislead people
- algorithmic bias — unfair results caused by computer decision rules
- digital literacy — ability to use and understand digital technology
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Discussion questions
- How could improving digital literacy help people face misinformation from generative AI in your community?
- Which of the five strategic pillars do you think should be a priority locally, and why?
- What can governments or companies do to reduce harms like job loss or environmental impacts from digital technology?
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