Thursday, February 12, 2026
Latam-GPT, a pioneering initiative to create a language model entirely developed in Latin America, officially launched this week. Originating in Chile, the project was developed by the Chilean National Centre for Artificial Intelligence (Cenia). Designed as “a language model made in Latin America, for Latin America,” Latam-GPT is an open-source AI model tailored to address regional needs and counter biases common in an industry heavily dominated by the United States.
The model leverages millions of data points collected across Latin America, reflecting the continent’s rich cultural diversity. Its website highlights the wide-ranging contributions from universities, foundations, libraries, government agencies, and civil society organizations across the region, demonstrating a collaborative effort to create a model rooted in local knowledge.
Currently, Latam-GPT is trained primarily in Spanish and Portuguese, but its developers plan to expand its capabilities to include indigenous Latin American languages. The project is not merely about language coverage; it also seeks to address biases and generalizations about Latin American people and nations. “The aim is to combat what Chile’s Science Minister Aldo Valle, calls prejudices and generalisations about people and countries from the region that other AI models may incorporate or depict.”
Unlike proprietary AI systems such as ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini, Latam-GPT is open-source. This allows programmers to adapt and customize the software for their own applications, promoting innovation and accessibility. Despite being trained on more than eight terabytes of data—roughly equivalent to millions of books—the project represents a relatively modest investment of approximately $550,000, funded mainly by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and Cenia’s resources. Initial training utilized Amazon Web Services cloud infrastructure, with plans to transition to a supercomputer at a Chilean university for future development.
Looking ahead, Latam-GPT will be freely available to companies and public institutions, enabling the creation of AI applications specifically designed for the Latin American context. The launch signals a growing trend of region-specific AI models worldwide, aimed at respecting cultural norms, maintaining safety standards, and expanding beyond the dominant global language groups.
By focusing on regional data, open access, and cultural representation, Latam-GPT positions itself as a significant step in democratizing AI and ensuring that Latin America has a voice in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
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