Over the past several months, there has been a growing number of calls from various quarters for the region to invest in AI, particularly to strengthen the business sector and enhance competitiveness. However, it could be argued that such an objective is limited. We discuss the pros and cons of that position and propose a more holistic approach.

 

In less than three years, artificial intelligence (AI) has completely disrupted individuals’, organisations’ and even countries’ perceptions of AI and the role it is likely to play in our lives. There has thus been an urgency to quickly harness that power to remain relevant and competitive, with increasing calls from the business community

A recent article, “Call for region to invest in AI”, which was published by NationNews in Barbados on 27 September 2025, raises an increasingly urgent question: Is the Caribbean ready to seize the opportunities offered by AI? This question emerged during a talk by Dr Keith Nurse, the President of the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT), to the Small Business Association of Barbados. Although Dr Nurse acknowledged that AI is a very powerful tool, he also challenged attendees to consider how Caribbean countries can use AI to export our capacity to win new markets.

While the article makes several valid points, it also reflects some of the limitations in how AI and digital transformation are being discussed across the Caribbean region. We highlight several points for consideration.

 

What the article got right

First, the article correctly emphasises that the urgency is real. Caribbean countries risk being left behind if they remain passive consumers of digital content rather than becoming creators and innovators. As Dr Nurse emphasised, value creation in the digital economy depends on control over data, content, and intellectual property.

Addressing policy, infrastructure, and data ownership issues is crucial, but to do so successfully, countries need to bolster their digital transformation budgets. Moreover, there are also benefits to be realised from fostering a regional approach to harness AI’s potential, especially to create more harmonised policy and infrastructure, consistent with the objectives of the CARICOM Single ICT Space.

Further, to successfully thrive in an increasingly digital world, the population needs to possess the requisite knowledge and skills to leverage digital technologies and tools. Hence, focusing on capacity building among all constituents of the society, which will invariably require sustained and comprehensive programmes, rather than the ad hoc initiatives that have been the norm.

 

 Where the article falls short

Despite these strengths, the article was very business-centric, which may have been appropriate for the audience, but seemed to have underplayed or missed several critical dimensions—especially when we take into account the broader socio-economic reality of Caribbean countries. For example, although innovation in the private sector is important, many of the biggest opportunities for AI in the Caribbean lie in public services: healthcare, education, agriculture, transportation, and disaster preparedness. Hence, a strong AI strategy must go beyond startups and digital content creators to include national development priorities.

Second, it could be argued that the infrastructural limitations were downplayed. Though the need for larger digital transformation budgets was mentioned, the reality is that many Caribbean countries still struggle with the basics, such as consistent broadband, data storage, reliable power, and cybersecurity. Without these fundamentals, countries’ AI efforts will struggle to take off.

Third, national and regional discussions on AI regulation, AI ethics, or data sovereignty are still nascent. Most Caribbean countries are not yet at a stage at which they are actively developing ethical frameworks and regulatory oversight. Further, as was noted in recent surveys on the state of AI development, no English-speaking Caribbean country has published a national AI policy, which emphasises the work still to be done to begin to establish appropriate AI frameworks nationally and regionally.

Finally, skills development should not just be about coding. A more comprehensive approach is crucial, but it should not just be limited to the youth but also include teachers, the elderly, and the current labour force who need to be upskilled and reskilled. Further, having addressed the supply side, the demand side, that is, employment and other opportunities for personal wealth creation, must also be addressed to stave off the continuing brain drain that has been occurring.

 

 A more holistic approach to AI in the Caribbean

To truly unlock the transformative power of AI in the Caribbean, we would need to go beyond the article’s scope. Outlined below are some strategies that could be considered.

  • Integrated national and regional strategies. Each country ought to develop a national AI strategy aligned with a broader CARICOM or OECS digital development agenda. Ensuring some harmonisation on key policies could facilitate the pooling of resources and expertise to improve economies of scale among small economies and realise greater impact.
  • Establish ethical and legal frameworks. Data protection, algorithmic fairness, and responsible AI use must be part of the national and regional conversations on ethics and governance of digital frameworks. Caribbean countries must craft laws that reflect local values and realities, and not just import global models, which might not be appropriate for local application.
  • Invest in foundational infrastructure. Cognisant that AI can’t thrive without reliable internet, data centres, power, and secure digital infrastructure, investments in these areas are non-negotiable and ought to be proactively addressed. It thus means that funding challenges would need to be addressed, and options such as blended finance, development bank funding, or innovation bonds may need to be explored.
  • Transform education at all levels. AI and digital literacy ought to be introduced early into the school curriculum, from primary school to vocational training. However, systems must also be established to make digital education more inclusive, to retrain the existing workforce and to better equip the rest of the population to navigate AI and other technologies.
  • Focus on real-world applications. Recognising the broad range of societal challenges Caribbean countries are experiencing, there should be an emphasis on using AI to solve actual problems in society, such as weather forecasting, traffic flow, crop monitoring, tourism management, disease detection, or online education. Countries can start with pilot projects, which can transition into clusters, which can eventually be scaled across the region.

 

Final Thoughts

The NationNews article is a welcome contribution to the conversation on how Caribbean countries, and by extension the region, can capitalise on the opportunities driven by AI. The Caribbean has everything to gain from engaging with AI and emerging technologies—but only if the effort is broad-based, inclusive, and grounded in the region’s social and economic reality. However, we also need to be prudent in maximising our limited resources to achieve the greatest impact in terms of the reach across our societies and the outputs realised.

 

 

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