Panama Bolsters Tech Ecosystem with AI, Local Startups, and Institutional Support
The Big News
In recent weeks, the Cabinet Council officially approved Panama's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, positioning the country as a future "Trusted Hub of AI Innovation" in Latin America. The strategy prioritizes digital infrastructure, human capital, governance, ethics, entrepreneurship, and investment, all within the framework of the National Agenda for Advanced Technologies, with a long-term vision from 2026 to 2036.(tvn-2.com)
Key Topics
1. National AI Assessment: Adoption Disparities and Impact
A recent report from the Latin American Council of Technology Ethics (CLET) highlights that while Panama is progressing institutionally in AI, it faces implementation and governance challenges due to territorial, educational, and access disparities. The country scored 38.95 points on the Latin American AI Index 2025, classifying it as an "adopter" in the region.(somosclet.org) Recommendation: Businesses and authorities should prioritize generating disaggregated data to assess real impacts and create inclusive policies.
2. Panamanian Startups Making AI Accessible with Innovative Methods
Local startup Creartísimo is developing "Yolanda," a platform automating business processes via apps like WhatsApp, ChatGPT, and Claude; it also offers certified AI training.(visualevento.com) Meanwhile, Botón—formerly Hero—backed by Y Combinator, offers an AI agent to automate accounting for SMEs in Latin America.(nexo.la) Recommendation: Entrepreneurs and SMEs should explore these solutions to save operational time and integrate AI practically.
3. Increased AI Usage at Work, Yet Panama Lags Regionally
According to the "AI at Work 2026" study by Konzerta, 44% of workers in Panama use AI daily, an increase from 2025. However, Panama still trails behind Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, and Peru in regional adoption.(prensa.com) Recommendation: Companies and professionals should advance training to keep up with this trend and avoid falling behind.
4. Panama Attracts Major Tech Players but Doesn't Aim for AI Model Creation
At a forum in New York, the Authority for Government Innovation (AIG) emphasized Panama's goal to become a regional reference in AI application, without focusing on developing large AI models. Usage cases such as telemedicine and public services (Panama Connect) using Google AI (Gemini) were presented. Companies like Google, Meta, Nvidia, and Anthropic are interested in investing in data centers in the country.(prensa.com) Recommendation: Local tech companies should prepare to collaborate with these initiatives and benefit from the infrastructure that may be established.
Conclusion
Panama is strengthening its tech ecosystem with a robust National AI Strategy, local startups offering innovative solutions, a growing work-related AI adoption, and interest from tech giants. Despite these advances, challenges remain in governance, inclusivity, and technical capability. Following the execution of the six strategic pillars, new AI venture studio funds, the evolution of startups like Creartísimo and Botón, and any announcements on digital infrastructure and foreign investments will be important in the coming days.