High-level regional forum
The AI Latitude 2026Central American Forum on AI Safety and Security
- Dates
- Venue
- Costa Rica Convention Centre, Heredia
7–8 December 2026
what the forum is
The AI Latitude 2026 is a high-level regional meeting. Its core outcome is the Forum conclusions: shared priorities and next steps towards 2027 that build on SICA's Regional AI Strategy and prepare the region's participation in the Second United Nations Global Dialogue in New York. The private sector contributes its perspective on competitiveness, accountability and insurance.
Thematic technical roundtables
three fronts of work
On Monday afternoon, technical teams from each country, SICA, United Nations agencies and the private sector work in three roundtables. Their contributions feed into Tuesday's ministerial dialogue.
innovation
How can Central America turn agentic AI into productivity, better public services and opportunities for its SMEs?
cybersecurity
What does the region need to protect its critical infrastructure and respond jointly to AI incidents that cross borders?
agile regulation
How can the region govern frontier and agentic AI at the speed it demands, with the laws and institutions it already has?
Key facts
Dates
7–8 December 2026
Costa Rica time (UTC−6)
Monday, 7 DecemberBuilding the position · Technical level
19:00: Working dinner by invitationTuesday, 8 DecemberAgree and look ahead · Ministerial level
Participants
the eight SICA countries
Ministers, vice ministers and secretaries for science, technology, innovation and digital transformation from:
- Belize
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Dominican Republic
- The dialogue is open to other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Outcome
forum conclusions
Shared priorities and next steps towards 2027.
- December 2026Forum conclusions
- Towards 2027SICA Regional AI Strategy
- May 2027Second Global Dialogue on AI Governance, New York