Mexico Ranks Eighth in Latin America for AI Adoption

Mexico placed eighth among 20 countries in the 2026 Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index, scoring 52 points out of 100, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. The ranking measures countries’ capacity to adopt, invest in, research, develop and use artificial intelligence. Mexico ranks among the region’s “adopters,” not its pioneers.

The Regional Capacity Gap

Chile, Brazil and Uruguay claimed the top three spots, each with more than 60 points. ECLAC calls countries above that mark “pioneers,” describing them as having “high and relatively consolidated performance in infrastructure, talent, research, innovation and governance.” Mexico didn’t make that category.

Countries scoring from 35 to 60 points fall into the “adopters” group. ECLAC says they have relevant capacities, but gaps “limit a wider deployment of AI.” In rank order, the group included Colombia, Costa Rica, Argentina, Peru, Mexico, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Panama, El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago.

The report identifies Mexico’s weakest results in enabling factors, research, development and adoption. Governance was its strongest area, including national strategies, cybersecurity legal frameworks and responsible institutions. Those measures form part of the index’s assessment of national capacity; the report doesn’t describe any transfer of authority from Mexico to an international body.

ECLAC classified countries below 35 points as “explorers,” a group it describes as being at an early development stage and facing restrictions in infrastructure, research, adoption or governance. Paraguay, Jamaica, Cuba, Guatemala, Bolivia, Honduras and Venezuela made up that category.

Infrastructure, Skills and Use

ECLAC identified mobile-network and 5G coverage as relevant to using AI applications. According to the report, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Colombia and Peru had the region’s broadest coverage. Mexico’s coverage standing sits alongside comparatively low results in other index areas, including research, development and adoption.

Across the region, professional training of AI experts averaged 12.4 points out of 100. Mexico scored 15.8, above the average. Paraguay scored 28.2, Brazil 24.5, Costa Rica 22.6, Colombia 19.6, Trinidad and Tobago 14.6, and Chile 14. All scored above the regional average.

In May 2026, Costa Rica maintained what the report called “exceptional regional leadership” in its concentration of AI engineering skills, scoring more than twice as many points as Chile and Colombia. Mexico, Uruguay and Argentina formed the next group. Mexico’s score puts it above the regional average for professional training, but behind Costa Rica’s reported concentration of engineering skills.

A related item presented by El Universal said AI use in Mexican companies remained at 64%, according to a specialist, while only 13% used advanced systems. The index measures national capacity across several areas, while the related item reports overall company use and advanced-system use; they’re different measures. The supplied figures don’t state how AI adoption affects employment, population composition or cultural life in Mexico.