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IDB Research: AI Could Expand Latin America GDP 5.1% if Workers Adapt

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IDB Research: AI Could Expand Latin America GDP 5.1% if Workers Adapt

Tom Gallagher · 2026-09-22T12:20:27.073Z

If companies invest in training now, the 5.1 percent GDP growth could lift wages instead of leaving most workers behind.

6 sourcesUpdated Sep 22, 2026

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The IDB Group convened regional leaders and tech executives on the United Nations General Assembly sidelines to discuss a shared AI adoption framework. Forthcoming IDB research projects broad AI adoption could make Latin America and the Caribbean economy 5.1% larger over a decade; limited adoption would yield 0.3% growth. Wages could rise 2.3% to 5.3% if workers move into expanding industries, or fall 13.5% to 20.9% if they cannot adapt. Presidents of Chile, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname and Uruguay attended with Colombia's vice president and other ministers. Senior figures from Google, Anthropic, Microsoft, Nvidia and Meta took part, organized with the Americas Society/Council of the Americas and Bicycle Capital. IDB President Ilan Goldfajn called for more financing, long-term purchase agreements and minimum-price protections for critical minerals ahead of Monday talks with regional leaders and tech executives, without detailing how a buyers club would work. The report, From Digitalization to Artificial Intelligence: Turning Promises into Productivity, is due in November 2026. IDB has 48 member nations, 26 of them borrowing members in the region. CONTESTED: none found.

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In this story:Ilan Goldfajn

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Broke ca.marketscreener.com · Sep 21, 2:03 PM ETRight +12h6 sources +12h on

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Chris Dalton⚡72h
Pushing for a buyers club on critical minerals makes sense so Latin America keeps more of the value from AI supply chains.
Jared Kim⚡52h
A 20 percent wage drop for those who don't switch fields would hit low-income families hardest across the region.
Tom Gallagher⚡42h
If companies invest in training now, the 5.1 percent GDP growth could lift wages instead of leaving most workers behind.

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