The Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) presented its new publication ‘Artificial intelligence and public procurement in Latin America and the Caribbean: a regional dialogue to strengthen competition.’ The book is a compilation of articles by academics and experts that analyses how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can become a powerful tool for building fairer, more efficient and more transparent public procurement systems in the region.

The publication arises in response to the vulnerability of government procurement to practices such as collusion, agreements that compromise the efficiency of public spending, reduce the quality of services, and weaken public confidence in institutions. As a result, the book argues that the fight against these anti-competitive practices requires a renewed approach that incorporates smart technologies.

Designed and applied under ethical principles, AI can become a key tool for preventing and monitoring collusion, as it is capable of detecting anomalous patterns and early warning signs of risk in tendering processes that are often overlooked by traditional methods. The text also opens a debate on how to ensure that the use of AI in this field respects fundamental rights and data privacy.

Through a careful compilation of articles, the publication examines international experiences and proposes regulatory frameworks for the adoption of AI in public procurement. It addresses issues such as the use of data analytics to combat collusion, the intellectual property challenges posed by AI software, and strategies to promote fair competition in the acquisition of these new technologies.

The book is aimed not only at specialists, but also at public policy makers, government procurement managers and all stakeholders committed to the integrity of public spending in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is an analysis that SELA is making available to the region to encourage debate and concrete action.

Download the publication ‘Artificial intelligence and public procurement in Latin America and the Caribbean: a regional dialogue to strengthen competition.’