TY - JOUR
T1 - Democratising Artificial Intelligence for Pandemic Preparedness and Global Governance in Latin American and Caribbean Countries
AU - Rocha, Ulisses
AU - Bonidia, Robson
AU - Kong, Jude Dzevela
AU - Dauhajre, Mariana
AU - Struchiner, Claudio
AU - Goedert, Guilherme
AU - Stadler, Peter F.
AU - Sanches, Danilo
AU - Day, Troy
AU - Castro, Marcia C.
AU - Edmunds, John
AU - Colomé-Hidalgo, Manuel
AU - Morban, Demian Arturo Herrera
AU - Franco, Edian F.
AU - Ugarte-Gil, Cesar
AU - Espinoza-Lopez, Patricia
AU - Carrasco-Escobar, Gabriel
AU - de Carvalho, André
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Microbial Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2025/10
Y1 - 2025/10
N2 - Infectious diseases continue to pose a significant global health challenge, necessitating innovative approaches for predicting outbreaks, detecting variants, conducting contact tracing, discovering new drugs and managing misinformation. Artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly supported work in these areas, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the benefits of AI must be equitably distributed, and its use must be responsible and inclusive. As various nations implement AI regulations, the global nature of AI necessitates international collaboration to establish ethical guidelines and governance frameworks. In response to these needs, the Global South AI for Pandemic & Epidemic Preparedness & Response Network (AI4PEP) is leading a multinational effort across 16 countries to strengthen public health systems through responsible, Southern-led AI solutions. This opinion piece highlights AI4PEP's initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), examining the region's AI governance models and the challenges they present. By lowering barriers to AI adoption and fostering equitable access to AI-driven public health innovations, our network empowers researchers, healthcare professionals and policymakers in LAC to harness AI for infectious disease preparedness and response, ultimately improving health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.
AB - Infectious diseases continue to pose a significant global health challenge, necessitating innovative approaches for predicting outbreaks, detecting variants, conducting contact tracing, discovering new drugs and managing misinformation. Artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly supported work in these areas, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the benefits of AI must be equitably distributed, and its use must be responsible and inclusive. As various nations implement AI regulations, the global nature of AI necessitates international collaboration to establish ethical guidelines and governance frameworks. In response to these needs, the Global South AI for Pandemic & Epidemic Preparedness & Response Network (AI4PEP) is leading a multinational effort across 16 countries to strengthen public health systems through responsible, Southern-led AI solutions. This opinion piece highlights AI4PEP's initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), examining the region's AI governance models and the challenges they present. By lowering barriers to AI adoption and fostering equitable access to AI-driven public health innovations, our network empowers researchers, healthcare professionals and policymakers in LAC to harness AI for infectious disease preparedness and response, ultimately improving health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.
KW - AI governance
KW - AI in pandemic response
KW - democratisation of AI
KW - equitable public health systems
KW - global south initiatives
KW - responsible AI use
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105019538429
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105019538429#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.1111/1751-7915.70256
DO - 10.1111/1751-7915.70256
M3 - Article
C2 - 41123279
AN - SCOPUS:105019538429
SN - 1751-7907
VL - 18
JO - Microbial Biotechnology
JF - Microbial Biotechnology
IS - 10
M1 - e70256
ER -