There are two key opportunities for Latin American entrepreneurs: connecting new systems to old problems and generating new or at least more efficient solutions.

We are in the early stages of a technological revolution that, for the first time, gives us access to non-biological intelligence. There are many simultaneous debates regarding this technological paradigm that raise questions: Are generative AI foundation models a commodity? Can the proprietary model continue like Anthropic or will they be open as OpenAI shows after Meta's Llama 3? Should artificial intelligence be strictly regulated like in the European Union or through general notions to avoid inhibiting innovation or being surpassed? 

A useful conceptual framework for understanding this technology is to consider the components of this non-biological technology where Nvidia manufactures the most advanced "neurons" (H100, B200), although AMD or Intel and several others are also trying. Companies like OpenAI, Google, Meta, or X.AI and some others have built their own "brains", that is, foundation models, and companies like Microsoft, Google itself, AWS, or even Apple connect these brains with an ecosystem of specific products and functions, connecting the "brain" to the "body". 

History shows us that brains connected to bodies can achieve extraordinary feats in specialization. For example, to build a temple, some extract marble, others polish it, others design, and finally, a group builds; all of them are fed and defended by other specialized collectives.

Now that humanity will have a multiplication of intelligence with these new brains connected to bodies, what is Latin America's angle? In the foreseeable future, we will not manufacture "neurons" like Nvidia or AMD, and so far it doesn't seem we will make "brains" either, but there will undoubtedly be opportunities to connect to more specific "bodies", for example, to a regional bank or fintech, or to hospitals or consumer channels. The applications are as vast as the needs.

We are at a critical stage because the first to connect more "brains" will have a significant advantage. However, large conglomerates in the region tend to be slow in embracing innovation, although their dominant positions in their markets have allowed them to resist so far, even though the defensive moat is increasingly narrower.

There are two key opportunities for Latin American entrepreneurs: connecting new systems to old problems and generating new or at least more efficient solutions. This will allow them to generate scale by helping incumbents or even, when the market structure allows, disrupting them.

Debates about the commodity nature of foundation models, the arrival of artificial general intelligence, or the dangers are fascinating but not essential to take advantage of the bright moment of the next 18 months. These will be key for old synapses to work collectively with new non-biological minds to solve the persistent problems of the region and the world. We are facing a new technological portal, and those best positioned to understand and take advantage of it are entrepreneurs who, unlike in other moments, have little latency in accessing knowledge and tools.