AI: Leapfrogging into the Future

In this episode, Mariana speaks with Jimena Pardo and Federico Antoni, Managing Partners of Hi Ventures, a Venture Capital fund investing in AI startups in Latin America. They discuss how a second generation of entrepreneurs are applying AI to find unique solutions and what potential economic (and other) benefits AI could bring to the region. They also speak about how AI is being used and adapted at the same time than in any developed country, as opposed to the Internet, smart phones or other technologies which took years to penetrate due to a lack of infrastructure. They also explain how WhatsApp has helped to familiarize most people in the region with AI tools to conduct day-to-day activities. They analyze how AI’s productivity benefits might be greater in the region as AI allows businesses with systems dating back to the 1980s to leapfrog into the future. And they visit the problems in the region where AI entrepreneurs are focusing their attention, how most entrepreneurs thus far are adapting U.S. vs Chinese platforms and list the key gaps that need to be addressed to allow the region to reap AI’s potential.

You can listen to AI: Leapfrogging into the Future online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

AI: Leapfrogging into the Future is an episode from Mexico Matters by Center for Strategic and International Studies.

This episode is 40:10 long.

This episode was published on Oct 21, 2025.

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