Knowledge Series on Frontier Technologies for Social Inclusion in Caribbean SIDS

Frontier technologies, defined as technologies that can “reshape industry and communications and provide urgently needed solutions to global challenges”, already have a significant impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. Ranging from Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to blockchain, 3D printing, robotics, or virtual reality - frontier technologies are prevalent in people’s everyday lives and shape people’s choices and opportunities in the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Harnessing frontier technologies for social good has enormous potential to generate positive development outcomes in Caribbean SIDS. For example, on the one hand, AI could be employed to overcome some of the specific structural challenges faced by Caribbean SIDS such as a limited resource base, small domestic markets, increased vulnerability to climate change, and exposure to more frequent and more intense natural hazards including hurricanes and droughts. On the other hand, increased use of AI systems and technology may also have a disruptive effect on the Caribbean labor market, with automation impacting employment and livelihoods. According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), around a quarter of jobs are at risk of being replaced through automation in Latin America and the Caribbean. Another challenge is the uneven distribution and access to frontier technologies: SIDS often do not have the capabilities, resources and know-how to develop or make full use of frontier technologies to promote sustainable development. Furthermore, regulatory frameworks within Caribbean countries may not be strong enough to govern the use of the technologies. These are to be underpinned by ethical considerations and reflective of principles such as non-discrimination, the right to privacy and human oversight.

Awareness of the potentials and challenges of frontier technologies, as well as advances in regulation mechanisms greatly vary across the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. However, discussions in the region about how to harness frontier technologies to promote social inclusion often tend to overlook the realities in English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries.

Against this background, the Knowledge Series on Frontier Technologies for Social Inclusion in Caribbean SIDS aims to amplify the voices of Caribbean experts on specific opportunities and challenges in using frontier technologies for promoting social inclusion. It will make visible the realities in the Caribbean SIDS taking into consideration the needs of groups who are prone to social exclusion while creating linkages to the recently adopted Recommendation on the Ethics of AI and the Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers.

1. The UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (2021)  

2. The UNESCO Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers (2017)

3. The Knowledge Series on Inclusive COVID-19 Recovery in Caribbean SIDS (2021).

Paula Istúriz Cavero
Programme Specialist for Social and Human Sciences
UNESCO Office for the Caribbean

Email:   p.isturiz-cavero@unesco.org