Mexico and the Opportunity for Artificial Intelligence

Even if 83% of Mexicans follow the Roman Catholicism, earlier religions with their rituals and celebrations merged to this faith or at least stayed inside the memory. The most well-known example is the “Día de los Muertos” (Spanish for “Day of the Dead”), a traditional Mexican holiday, based on a pre-colonial tradition, originally celebrated in summer, later moved to the beginning of November to merge with the Christian holiday.

Behavior is based on perception; perception is based on senses. Different Mexican cultures worshiped various gods, including in animal shapes. Due to their differences from the humans, the intelligence and perception of these creatures was completely different and not predictable for humans. To nevertheless achieve an understanding of the gods, the priests started to read the stars and tried to discover patterns between the appearances of star constellations and occurrences on Earth. 

Like a black box, the priests used statistics, which behavior (input) let to which results (output), like sunshine or rain. They identified potential statistical relations and, depending on the topic, assumed false or correct logical connections between in- and output.

Perception is based on senses. Artificial Intelligence, including Machine- or even Deep-Learning, may not have different senses than humans, but thanks to more and superior sensors surely is more sensitive due to its ability to understand and analyze Big Data. 

This procession of continuous waves of information works like an additional sensor, on a level that humans are not capable of. Yusuf Aytar, post-doctoral AI research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) resumed: “If you have more senses, you have more accuracy.”

In 2017, the Facebook AI Research Lab (FAIR) had to shut down two of their chat-bots, as the scientists discovered that they invented their own language, not enigmatic for humans, to communicate with each other. It was not part of their primary program, nevertheless the machines did it, as they perceived it as more efficient. Even if we can read the software’s code, machine- and especially deep-learning may lead to unpredictable behavior.

Still in 2018, the research and advisory company Gartner defined Artificial as a “technology that appears to emulate human performance.” One year later they updated their definition to: “Artificial intelligence (AI) applies advanced analysis and logic-based techniques, including machine learning, to interpret events, support and automate decisions, and take actions.” The perceived human element became eliminated.

Different cultures with their demons and gods are part of the Mexican reality, and with this, part of the socialization since early-childhood. Humans are not completely able to understand these creatures, which makes them a “black box” like AIs. As conclusion, Mexican software designers should have an easier access to this technology, as due to their social experience, their brain is differently wired to interpret different realities.

Despites Mexico’s positive precondition, corruption and inefficient bureaucracy hinder creativity. Undoubtedly, the Mexican society appreciates all forms of art, but on the other hand because of the missing personal and economic freedom (corruption and impunity), many Mexicans choose to emigrate. This means a relevant limitation, as the needed talent and creativity leaves the country. A sabotage on the otherwise good conditions for a blooming local AI industry.