"For our country, artificial intelligence is no longer just a technological advance; it is a fundamental axis of economic development, competitiveness, and capacity building," said
During his speech, Zapata stated that a country's competitiveness no longer depends solely on its natural resources, geographical location, or physical infrastructure.
Rather, he said, it depends on its ability to develop talent, generate knowledge, harness innovation, and transform those capabilities into productivity, well-being, and economic growth for everyone.
"For this reason, artificial intelligence should not be understood solely from a technological perspective; it should also be understood from the perspective of economic development, competitiveness, and capacity building," Zapata stated.
"Therefore, we deeply value initiatives such as this summit, which promote international dialogue, strengthen innovation ecosystems, and offer new opportunities for cooperation in developing talent, conducting applied research, and promoting the responsible use of artificial intelligence," he indicated.
Likewise, the official emphasized that the country's goal is to establish itself as one of the regional benchmarks in digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
Strengthening the State's digital capabilities
The Government and Digital Transformation Secretary highlighted that the Peruvian State's digital capabilities are being strengthened to ensure that technological innovation develops on a secure foundation.
"The implementation of AI includes a public governance component aimed at strengthening transparency in government management and facilitating closer, ongoing evaluation among citizens, the State, and businesses," he noted.
The aim is also for artificial intelligence to help consolidate a more humane, intelligent, and responsive State, capable of providing accessible, inclusive, and citizen-centered digital public services, thereby generating public value.
"This vision is already materializing through concrete initiatives that we are promoting within the Peruvian State. In the area of digital health, we are working in coordination with the Ministry of Health to harness the potential of data, interoperability, and new technologies, with the aim of bringing more timely, efficient, and people-centered services closer to citizens," Zapata said.
Artificial intelligence represents a unique opportunity to strengthen prevention, early diagnosis, healthcare management, and evidence-based decision-making, thereby contributing to more modern and inclusive healthcare for all Peruvians.
Furthermore, the Government is actively promoting a zero-paper policy to modernize bureaucracy through the comprehensive digitalization of documents.
"These initiatives aim to create a more efficient, transparent, and humane State," Zapata concluded.
In turn, Hewlett Packard Enterprise's Regional Managing Director for Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, Luis Guerra Whittembury, stated during his speech that the integration of artificial intelligence into the public sector is based on three strategic pillars: large volumes of data, processes defined by clear rules, and the intrinsic need for auditing and oversight.
The expert cited several cases in which the implementation of AI has demonstrated tangible results in addressing social and administrative challenges, such as correlating medical records of cancer patients to enable faster and more accurate diagnoses.
Another example involved detecting tax evasion by correlating sales volumes with purchases and invoices issued by companies.
In Africa, and in collaboration with the United States, AI helped detect routes and points where minors were being captured.
Finally, Microsoft's Director of Data and Artificial Intelligence for Latin America, Alex Le Bienvenu, stated that, unlike previous technological waves, such as cloud computing and blockchain, the public sector is currently showing a greater willingness to adopt AI, positioning itself even at the forefront of solving complex problems.
"Personally, I have been gratified and surprised to see that many Latin American countries are leading AI implementations," Le Bienvenu pointed out.
The 2026 AI Summit: Shaping the Digital Future is a high-level forum aimed at accelerating AI adoption. It brought together experts from U.S. companies and organizations.
The sessions covered topics ranging from technological infrastructure and AI applications to talent development and regulatory best practices, with the aim of positioning Peru as a regional leader in AI.
During the event, Prime Minister Luis Galarreta and United States Ambassador to Peru Bernie Navarro signed a memorandum of understanding to boost strategic cooperation between the two institutions in this technological field.
Publicado: 9/9/2026