By: Staff Writer
August 29, 2025
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in a new report on Artificial Intelligence (AI) said that it can support the achievement of some of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) but warns of risks.
The policy brief, “Strengthening the artificial intelligence readiness of the Caribbean,” said: “Artificial intelligence (AI) systems, when applied well, could help in addressing key global challenges and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“However, these potential benefits will not materialize automatically. The use of AI also carries significant risks, such as disruption to job markets and economies, loss of cultural diversity, new AI-enabled digital weapons that increase misinformation and surveillance, and threats to human rights and democracy.”
The 17 SDGs are: No poverty (SDG 1), Zero hunger (SDG 2), Good health and well-being (SDG 3), Quality education (SDG 4), Gender equality (SDG 5), Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), Industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), Reduced inequalities (SDG 10), Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), Climate action (SDG 13), Life below water (SDG 14), Life on land (SDG 15), Peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16), and Partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).
The report also said: “While AI systems could support the achievement of many of the SDGs , they could also impede the achievement of others and increase inequalities within and between countries. Many experts in the field of AI are concerned that existing or new harms resulting from AI will become substantially more serious or widespread in the near future, due to inequalities arising from differential control of and ownership over AI technologies.
The report added: “Caribbean governments are actively engaged with the global discussions on how to regulate AI. This is evidenced by the unanimous adoption of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (2021), and that several Caribbean States co-sponsored the two 2024 General Assembly resolutions on AI. At the regional level, the Digital Agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean speaks to fostering innovation, emerging technologies and AI for sustainable development, while safeguarding human rights and the ethical use of technology.
“The Santiago (2023) and Cartagena (2024) declarations on AI, which were signed by a handful of Caribbean countries each, discuss key elements of AI governance. This includes establishing effective national institutional frameworks and developing ecosystems for the development and deployment of ethical, safe and inclusive AI.
“At the subregional level, the Caribbean Artificial Intelligence Policy Roadmap, which was developed in 2021 and updated following extensive regional consultation in 2024, seeks to support the efforts of policymakers to establish robust governance frameworks to mitigate AI risks. Discussions on AI in warfare have also taken place through CARICOM, which in 2023 adopted a Declaration on Autonomous Weapons Systems. Discussions at the Caribbean level have also taken place through ECLAC and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union. Work has also been ongoing through the platform for SIDS and the Commonwealth. The latter is developing a framework for sovereign AI strategy, which may influence the overall direction of AI governance in the Caribbean, given that 11 of its 16 States are members of the Commonwealth.”