UNESCO and Chile’s CENIA Partner to Advance Ethical AI in Education Across Latin America
UNESCO has signed a new cooperation agreement with Chile’s National Centre for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA), marking a significant step toward advancing ethical AI development across education systems in Chile and Latin America.
Announced in early March 2026, the partnership establishes a framework to promote artificial intelligence in educational settings while reinforcing ethical standards throughout the full lifecycle of AI systems. The agreement brings together UNESCO’s regional leadership in policy and governance with CENIA’s expertise in research, training, and technology development.
Focus Areas of Collaboration
The collaboration will focus on expanding AI literacy and digital competencies across a wide range of audiences, including educators, policymakers, technical professionals, and the general public. Both organizations plan to develop adaptable training resources and launch targeted education initiatives designed to support responsible AI adoption in diverse institutional contexts.
Integration of Latam-GPT
A key component of the partnership is the integration of Latam-GPT, an open large language model developed specifically for Latin America and the Caribbean. The model is expected to support Ministries of Education across the region and will play a central role in UNESCO’s newly established Regional Observatory on AI in Education.
Emphasis on Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration
Beyond technical tools, the agreement emphasizes multi-stakeholder collaboration. UNESCO and CENIA aim to strengthen regional ecosystems by fostering dialogue between governments, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders, ensuring that AI innovation aligns with ethical, inclusive, and human rights-based principles.
Global Attention on AI in Education
The initiative reflects growing global attention on the role of AI in education, particularly as countries look to balance innovation with safeguards around transparency, accountability, and equitable access. UNESCO has positioned itself as a key driver of these efforts through its broader mandate to develop normative frameworks and policy guidance for responsible AI.
With this agreement, both organizations are signaling a long-term commitment to building capacity, reducing digital divides, and ensuring that AI technologies are deployed in ways that support educational outcomes and broader societal benefit across Latin America.
