The following article is drawn from our conversations with leading industry voices across Latin America, featured in our State of AI 2025 report (available through the button on the right). In this edition, we highlight the insights of Nicolas Andrade, Head of Public Policy for Latin America at OpenAI.
Policy shouldn’t be drafted in isolation from the professionals and academics building with AI on the ground. - Nicolas Andrade
More founders in Latin America are no longer just using AI tools — they’re building on top of foundational models and integrating AI into the core of their products. Projects like AmazonGPT and FavelaGPT embody this new wave of builders and highlight the region’s growing influence in shaping the future of AI development and deployment.
On AI policy, Nico emphasized that rushing legislation can pose greater risks than taking time to engage all sectors affected by regulation. He cited Mexico’s multi-stakeholder process and the OpenAI–Fintual AI Summit as examples of inclusive, deliberate governance. Governments, he argued, must balance regulating AI, investing in infrastructure, and listening to those closest to real-world deployment.
Nico warned that Latin American regulatory debates often leave out startup and technical voices. Without input from founders and developers, policies risk discouraging innovation or driving investment away. He called for closer collaboration to ensure frameworks manage risks and enable responsible growth.
