Mexico’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence
Mexico has officially launched a national strategy aimed at the adoption, oversight, and operation of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This marks a significant milestone for the nation as it seeks to leverage the emerging economy associated with this transformative technology. However, questions remain regarding Mexico’s ability to translate these policies into national capabilities that can compete effectively in the international market.
This concern is highlighted in a study titled ‘Middle-Income Economies: Navigating Digital Dependencies in AI’, published by the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI). The report delves into the relationship between national AI development strategies, existing technological capabilities, and reliance on foreign suppliers across ten developing markets, including Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, India, and South Africa.
Establishing a Roadmap for AI Development
In April of this year, the Digital Transformation and Telecommunications Agency (ATDT) released the ‘National Artificial Intelligence Plan’, which outlines the roadmap the Mexican government intends to follow to harness the benefits of AI technology. This strategy is founded on several key pillars, including the establishment of a robust ethical and legal framework, the development of public sector-focused capabilities, specialised talent, and software, as well as the creation of strategic infrastructure aimed at ensuring technological sovereignty.
The overarching goal is to create the necessary conditions for the state to reduce its dependence on foreign private suppliers, fostering instead the development of domestic tools that contribute to the welfare of the population and address various administrative, social, and critical sector-related challenges.
Concrete Initiatives in AI Implementation
Parts of this strategy have begun to take tangible form through specific projects. In March, the Mexican Centre for Supercomputing was inaugurated, a public-scientific initiative designed to build national capabilities in high-performance computing, AI, advanced modelling, and the analysis of large data sets. Among the project’s ambitious goals is the establishment of Coatlicue, a supercomputer anticipated to be the most powerful in Latin America.
Additionally, training centres have been established, such as the Open Code School, which offers free courses in programming, databases, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, and the Public Centre for AI Training (CPFI), which provides cost-free training across 20 specialised pathways in AI, infrastructure, cybersecurity, software development, data analysis, as well as English and soft skills training.
Moreover, the Artificial Intelligence Factory and the Public Software and Technology Factory have commenced operations to integrate young talent into developing AI solutions tailored for the public sector. These initiatives aim to expedite governmental processes, identify use cases, and create tools for digital services, information analysis, and process optimisation.
Challenges in Policy Execution
Despite these promising advancements, which are still in the early stages of implementation, CIGI’s research raises concerns about the current administration’s ability, led by Claudia Sheinbaum, to transform these proposals into mechanisms for long-term innovation and digital sovereignty.
The analysis employs ratings from the OECD’s AI Policy Observatory, the Oxford Government AI Readiness Index, and the IMF’s AI Preparedness Index, which were recorded for the ten countries studied up to the end of 2025. Although the ratings do not account for the official presentation of the National AI Plan or the projects initiated this year, they provide a comprehensive view of the general conditions under which Mexico is adopting and executing these measures.
Assessing Mexico’s AI Development Potential
According to the report, Mexico possesses the fundamental policy components necessary to advance AI development: a national strategy or action plan; national governance bodies or mechanisms; relevant guidelines and standards; and public policy-related programmes, initiatives, and projects involving this technology. Nevertheless, the country receives a low score of 35 out of a possible 100 in its capacity to maintain a political focus and commitment to optimally and sustainably promoting AI development. This score is the lowest among the ten markets analysed and significantly trails behind the 96 and 88 points achieved by India and Brazil, respectively.
The report identifies public adoption and governance as relative strengths for Mexico, despite the absence of a federal regulatory framework, even though various proposals have been put forward by both the federal government and Congress. Conversely, it points out that the country’s major weaknesses lie in the lack of public infrastructure, dissemination and development of AI, as well as in its resilience capabilities related to security, protection, and risk management. In these areas, Mexico scores 52.10, 34.07, and 32.22 points, respectively.
Path Forward for Mexican AI Policy
The CIGI report suggests that Mexico has the foundational elements required to develop a national policy focused on advancing AI. However, it still lacks several necessary components to ensure proper implementation. Addressing these aspects will be crucial to diminishing reliance on external suppliers and progressing towards the technological sovereignty that the National AI Plan seeks to ensure, at least in the realm of public policy in an effective manner.