SANTO DOMINGO – President Luis Abinader yesterday launched the National Artificial Intelligence Literacy Program “RD Inteligente” (Smart Dominican Republic), a technological and social development initiative that aims to train one million Dominicans in artificial intelligence (AI), with the goal of strengthening the population's digital skills and advancing towards a more inclusive and competitive knowledge economy.
The project, which will be launched through the Technological Institute of the Americas (ITLA), aims to democratize access to technological training through a training program in which the institution will be responsible for the digital literacy process.
Empowering and preparing people for the challenges of the new era
During the presentation, President Abinader indicated that “RD Inteligente” is a national commitment to ensure that every Dominican has access to the necessary tools to thrive in the era of artificial intelligence.
He mentioned that the objective is clear: to boost opportunities and prepare people for the challenges and possibilities of this new technological era, because he believes that artificial intelligence cannot be exclusive to a few, but should be available to all Dominicans.
“We don’t want to turn a million Dominicans into programmers. We want a million Dominicans to be better at what they already know how to do,” the president stated, noting that AI can help teachers, professionals, entrepreneurs, workers, and citizens perform their jobs better.
It is no longer a technology of the future
The Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza, emphasized that artificial intelligence “is no longer a technology of the future,” but a reality that is transforming the way citizens work, learn, undertake projects, and solve problems.
He affirmed that the Dominican Republic has embraced this challenge with a national vision, through the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (ENIA), aimed at boosting innovation, strengthening digital capabilities, and developing the talent demanded by the new knowledge economy. He also noted the progress made in establishing the Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (CEIA-RD).
“The confidence of major global technology players like Google and NVIDIA demonstrates that our country is positioning itself as an attractive destination for investment, innovation and the development of specialized talent, consolidating a new stage of growth based on knowledge and technology,” he noted.
This is how the program will be implemented
The rector of ITLA, Jimmy Rosario Bernard, explained how the artificial intelligence literacy program will be implemented, highlighting the contribution of the institution's human talent and technological capabilities. He also detailed the different stages of the project and the identification of the target audiences.
The project encompasses various stages and target audiences, including high school and university students, young job seekers, entrepreneurs, and public servants. Additionally, it will also be aimed at professionals, teachers, members of the security and defense forces, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), parents, and the general public.
The information from the Presidency indicates that the initiative seeks to strengthen the digital skills of the population and facilitate the use of artificial intelligence in areas such as education, employment, entrepreneurship and professional development.
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