Artificial Intelligence: Díaz-Canel's Latest Proposal Amidst Cuba's Ongoing Crisis

In a move that highlights a disconnect with the country's pressing needs, Cuba's leader Miguel Díaz-Canel suggested at the December Council of Ministers meeting that artificial intelligence should be employed as a key tool to tackle Cuba's significant issues. "Everyone is talking about artificial intelligence and applying it in processes," stated the leader, even as the Cuban populace lacks stable access to the internet, electricity, and basic services, as reported by the state-run Canal Caribe.

Díaz-Canel's suggestion is part of a broader call to initiate a digital transformation across all sectors, despite the country's crumbling economy and outdated technological infrastructure. "Let's stop talking about digital transformation and start showcasing concrete projects," he urged, yet he left unanswered how such implementation could occur without the necessary resources or a solid technological foundation.

Further, the president emphasized the need for public involvement in government projects, though he did not address how Cubans might participate in this purported technological revolution while enduring blackouts, inadequate wages, and a lack of digital tools. "We're going to launch this project, develop that policy, how does the public participate?" he questioned, offering no clear solutions for engaging a population struggling daily for survival.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz introduced the government's projections for 2025, a document supposedly outlining the steps to transform the nation. However, aside from grandiose statements, there were no specific strategies detailed for integrating advanced technologies like AI into a context marked by scarcity.

The stark contrast between the rhetoric of innovation and the country's reality is glaring: while the government discusses artificial intelligence and digital transformation, the population grapples with limited connectivity, outdated education systems, and a stagnant economy. In Cuba, where government control over telecommunications is total, implementing a cutting-edge technological strategy seems unlikely without genuine economic and social openness.

The gap between official discourse and the country's conditions continues to widen, leaving artificial intelligence as yet another slogan from a government known for empty promises as the reality continues to crumble. At the close of the meeting, Díaz-Canel congratulated Cubans for "overcoming" another challenging year, underscoring that his push for AI is merely another attempt to gloss over the crisis without offering tangible solutions for the people.

Although the Cuban leader attempts to conclude the year with an ostensibly "innovative" proposal such as AI utilization, the fact is that back in February 2023, he was already advocating for this technology in the productive sector and public administration. During a meeting with members of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba, Díaz-Canel claimed the country was already using AI in certain projects, though he did not specify which ones.

Nonetheless, the topic has resurfaced in Díaz-Canel's agenda following the recent announcement that two Cuban technology entities have joined the AI Alliance Network, part of the BRICS group of countries, which the island joined as an associate in October. Official sources confirmed that Cuba's representatives in the AI Alliance Network are the Ecosystem of the Havana Scientific Technological Park and the University of Computer Sciences (UCI).