AI: Leapfrogging into the Future
From Mexico Matters by Center for Strategic and International Studies
October 21, 2025 · 40 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the impact of AI on entrepreneurship and economic development in Latin America with insights from venture capitalists.
In this episode, Mariana speaks with Jimena Pardo and Federico Antoni, Managing Partners of Hi Ventures, a Venture Capital fund investing in AI startups in Latin America. They discuss how a second generation of entrepreneurs are applying AI to find unique solutions and what potential economic (and other) benefits AI could bring to the region. They also speak about how AI is being used and adapted at the same time than in any developed country, as opposed to the Internet, smart phones or other technologies which took years to penetrate due to a lack of infrastructure. They also explain how WhatsApp has helped to familiarize most people in the region with AI tools to conduct day-to-day activities. They analyze how AI’s productivity benefits might be greater in the region as AI allows businesses with systems dating back to the 1980s to leapfrog into the future. And they visit the problems in the region where AI entrepreneurs are focusing their attention, how most entrepreneurs thus far are adapting U.S. vs Chinese platforms and list the key gaps that need to be addressed to allow the region to reap AI’s potential.
People in this episode
Host: Mariana
Guests: Jimena Pardo, Federico Antoni
Topics covered
- Artificial Intelligence
- Venture Capital
- Entrepreneurship
- Economic Development
- Technology Adoption
- Latin America
Keywords
- AI
- startups
- Latin America
- entrepreneurs
- technology
- economic benefits
- productivity
- venture capital
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Hi Ventures
Places: Latin America, U.S., China
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