New York, May 5, 2026 - Cuba reaffirmed, at the United Nations, the urgency of strengthening international cooperation for capacity building in artificial intelligence (AI), with an inclusive, equitable approach focused on the priorities of the Global South, during a meeting of the Group of Friends on International Cooperation for Capacity Building in AI.
At the meeting, Cuba’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, warned that the rapid advancement of AI could exacerbate structural inequalities if deliberate and inclusive measures are not adopted to ensure equitable access to these technologies.
The diplomat stressed that science, technology, and innovation must serve sustainable development, and emphasized that the implementation of General Assembly Resolution 78/311 must prioritize capacity-building that aligns with national strategies, respects the policy autonomy of States, and fosters domestic scientific capabilities.
Soberón Guzmán highlighted that international cooperation on AI must be based on equity, facilitating access to data, computational resources, and education, and eliminating barriers to developing countries’ participation in digital governance. He denounced that unilateral coercive measures, particularly the U.S. blockade against Cuba and the energy blockade, severely limit access to technologies and financing.
The Permanent Representative reaffirmed the central role of the United Nations in promoting open, inclusive, and transparent multilateral frameworks for AI governance that reflect the interests of all Member States, especially those of the Global South, and reiterated Cuba’s commitment to effective international cooperation in this area.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.