At a recent event, Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his interest in an international collaboration to develop artificial intelligence that works in Spanish and Portuguese. The president of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, initially suggested this idea as a way to strengthen the technological presence of both countries.
During the 5th National Conference on Science, Technology, and Innovation in Brasilia, Lula mentioned this proposal in his speech. He highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence that respects and enhances local languages and cultures. Lula stressed that this technology should be a tool to create jobs, not to replace them, emphasizing the need for ethical and responsible development.
The Brazilian Artificial Intelligence Plan (PBIA) was presented at the conference as a response to this need, focusing on innovation and social inclusion. This plan, which has yet to be reviewed at the Planalto Palace, aims to establish a solid basis for collaboration with Spain and other countries interested in multilingual technologies.
Lula criticized extensive technology corporations for their monopoly over data and lack of fair contribution to local economies. He stressed that Brazil and Spain have the opportunity to lead with an artificial intelligence of their own, designed to serve their citizens and preserve their languages.
The conference, which marks the first time this event has been held in 14 years, attracted more than 2,200 in-person participants and another 2,000 virtually. This meeting underscores the growing importance of science and technology in Brazil's development agenda, and the proposed collaboration with Spain is seen as a strategic step towards greater technological sovereignty.
The idea of multilingual artificial intelligence also opens up opportunities for further cooperation in Latin America and other Spanish—and Portuguese-speaking countries. This initiative could become a model for other countries seeking to develop their own technology that is aligned with their values and needs.
The proposal is still in its early stages, but both countries are committed to exploring this collaboration. It could set a new standard for multilingual and ethical technology development, focusing on human-centeredness and sustainability.
