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In a groundbreaking move, Brazil’s government officially proposed a robust 23 billion reais ($4.07 billion) artificial intelligence (AI) investment plan aimed at fostering sustainable and socially-oriented technologies. The announcement came from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Tuesday, with the aim of positioning Brazil as a technological leader in Latin America and achieving “national sovereignty” in the AI sector.
A Vision for Self-Reliance in AI
As the largest economy in Latin America, Brazil is asserting its ambition to attain technological autonomy and reduce dependency on imported AI tools from technological giants like China, the United States, South Korea, and Japan. “Our artificial intelligence needs to be intelligent; it needs to be a source of income and employment,” emphasized President Lula, underlining the socioeconomic motivations behind the ambitious proposal.
The comprehensive investment plan delineates the deployment of funds across multiple sectors, highlighting immediate impact initiatives in public health, agriculture, environmental conservation, business innovation, and education. The plan also includes the development of advanced language models tailored to Portuguese, integrating national cultural, social, and linguistic data.
Strategic Allocation of Resources
Spanning from 2024 to 2028, the 23 billion reais investment will be carefully distributed across various AI-driven projects:
- Business Innovation Projects: 14 billion reais will be channeled into business innovation over the next four years.
- Infrastructure and Development: Over 5 billion reais are earmarked for developing AI infrastructure, including data centers and high-capacity supercomputers.
- Public Services and Training: Resources will support AI in public services, regulatory frameworks, and human resource development.
Luciana Santos, Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, elaborated on the vision of equipping Brazil with state-of-the-art technological infrastructure powered by renewable energy. This aligns with the country’s sustainability goals and its noteworthy position in clean energy production.
Private and Public Synergy
Of the total investment, nearly 22 billion reais will stem from public funds, primarily sourced from the federal budget and the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT). An additional 1.06 billion reais will be contributed by private sector investments and counterparty commitments for tax incentives. “This initial estimate does not preclude the possibility that private companies and organizations will make larger contributions along the way,” asserted the government, indicating a synergistic approach to fostering AI advancements.
Ethical and Sustainable AI Development
The AI plan, commissioned by President Lula to Brazil’s National Council of Science and Technology (CCT), underscores the ethical and sustainable application of artificial intelligence. Among its notable components, the plan envisions acquiring one of the world’s top five supercomputers to boost computational power—though specific details remain under wraps.
As part of its broader objectives, the government aims to enhance public data ecosystems hosted on a Brazilian sovereign cloud, ensuring technological autonomy, data integrity, and citizen privacy.
Regional Efforts and Renewable Energy
Parallel to the national endeavor, the northeast region of Brazil is mobilizing a 44 billion reais fund to attract IT firms specializing in data centers. Danilo Cabral, head of the region’s Sudene development agency, highlighted the region’s capability to produce 86% of Brazil’s clean energy, a strategic advantage for data center locations.
Incorporating AI to fight deforestation, prevent natural disasters, and foster business innovation, Brazil’s AI initiative is a significant leap towards a technologically advanced and self-reliant future.
By presenting a meticulous and forward-thinking AI investment strategy, Brazil is not only setting a benchmark for Latin American nations but also showcasing its commitment to integrating AI into its societal and economic fabric sustainably and ethically.
Source: Reuters and others
