Participants posing

Participants in the September 21, 2026 program. (Photo: Courtesy of IDB)

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IDB, Bicycle Capital, and AS/COA Welcomed Heads of State for Discussion on AI 

The event brought together senior officials and private-sector AI experts to discuss how the digital transformation can result in greater development.

New York, September 21, 2026—The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in partnership with Americas Society/Council of the Americas (AS/COA) and Bicycle Capital, convened heads of state from several Latin American and Caribbean countries, as well as private-sector AI leaders, for a high-level discussion on artificial intelligence.

The event, called The Presidential Dialogue on AI, brought together presidents, vice presidents, ministers, and leading AI specialists from the private sector for an exchange on how artificial intelligence can help unlock productivity, boost competitiveness, and generate better outcomes for citizens in the region. The private meeting took place at AS/COA's headquarters in New York.

“It was a privilege to work with the IDB and Bicycle Capital and to welcome such a distinguished group of leaders for a timely and important discussion about how artificial intelligence can help advance shared prosperity,” said Susan Segal, president and CEO of AS/COA. “Collaboration across sectors will be essential to ensuring that digital transformation results in meaningful opportunities and sustainable development throughout the region.”

Event

Participants in the September 21, 2026 program. (Photo: Courtesy of IDB)

The heads of state who attended the event were José Antonio Kast, President of Chile; Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic; Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana; José Raúl Mulino, President of Panama; Santiago Peña, President of Paraguay; Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, President of Suriname; Yamandú Orsi, President of Uruguay; Sebastian Bastia, Minister of Innovation of the Bahamas; Fernando Aramayo, Minister of the Presidency of Bolivia; José Manuel Restrepo Abondano, Vice President of Colombia; Esther Dweck, Minister of Management and Innovation of Brazil; and Carlos Mendoza Alvarado, Secretary of Planning and Programming of Guatemala.

AS/COA is proud to provide a forum for conversations of this significance with leaders and experts who collaborate to advance solutions that promote the region’s long-term development and prosperity.

Contact: mediarelations@as-coa.org