IDB, Ceibal Launch Regional Call to Boost AI Integration in Latin American Classrooms

In a bold move to accelerate educational transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has partnered with Ceibal and Socialab to launch “AI Here!”, a regional call for proposals aimed at identifying and supporting innovative AI-driven educational solutions already being implemented in real classroom environments.

The initiative—open from July 15 to August 15, 2025—seeks to map, showcase, and strengthen practical applications of artificial intelligence that are making measurable impacts across the region’s education systems. This collaborative effort positions AI not as a futuristic aspiration but as a present and vital tool in addressing some of the region's most pressing educational challenges.

From Potential to Proof: Scaling AI That Works in the Classroom

The “AI Here!” call for proposals is grounded in the findings of the IDB’s influential report “Artificial Intelligence and Education: Building the Future Through Digital Transformation.” The report outlines evidence-based strategies for embedding AI responsibly into education policy and practice and emphasizes the importance of real-world validation.

“We want to identify innovative and promising uses of AI that not only inspire but also generate solid evidence to inform public policy decisions across the region,” said Mercedes Mateo, Chief of the IDB’s Education Division. “It’s time to move from potential to proof.”

The initiative welcomes submissions from startups, NGOs, government bodies, public institutions, and tech partnerships—provided that the solutions are currently active in schools and demonstrate ethical, inclusive, and effective AI integration.

Participation Categories: Where AI Can Make the Greatest Impact

To guide applicants and ensure relevance, the IDB and Ceibal have defined three priority categories aligned with current regional education challenges:

1. AI for Improved Learning Solutions that enhance personalized and differentiated instruction, support teacher development, or foster student engagement and retention through adaptive technologies and intelligent learning environments.

2. AI for Access and Educational Continuity Initiatives that leverage AI to increase equity in access, particularly in rural or underserved communities, while ensuring students can progress without disruption—including in the face of emergencies or school closures.

3. AI for Education System Management Tools designed to enhance data-informed decision-making, automate administrative processes, or improve resource allocation at institutional and system-wide levels, such as predictive analytics for enrollment or dropout prevention.

Voices from the Field: AI as an Opportunity, Not a Gap

As the Latin American region faces longstanding inequities in access to quality education, the organizers emphasized the transformative role of AI—when implemented responsibly.

“At Ceibal, our mission is to ensure that technological innovation leads to better learning opportunities for every student,” said Mauro Carballo, Head of AI and Education at Ceibal. “As a public policy model and innovation hub, we believe AI is not just a challenge—it’s an opportunity. This call connects knowledge, experiences, and impactful solutions across borders.”

Socialab, an organization known for scaling social innovations, will lead implementation of the open call.

“This call is a showcase of real-world solutions—proof that AI can tackle deep-rooted education challenges,” said Valentina González, CEO of Socialab. “Our focus is accelerating knowledge transfer to ensure innovation serves the collective good.”

What’s in Store for Winners: Visibility, Support, and Regional Spotlight

Three winning proposals will be selected by a panel of regional and international education experts. Each winning initiative will receive:

• Official recognition and regional visibility through an IDB publication profiling the initiative.

• Tailored technical support from Ceibal’s EduIA Lab, including guidance on AI ethics, scalability, and public policy alignment.

• Fully covered participation (travel, accommodation, and event access) in the EduIA regional conference on AI and education, taking place in Montevideo, Uruguay.

This opportunity not only brings prestige and exposure to promising solutions but also connects winners to public policymakers, educators, and potential collaborators from across Latin America and beyond.

Fostering a Human-Centered AI Future for Education

Beyond the competition, “AI Here!” is a catalyst for a broader movement: one that encourages governments and educational institutions to adopt, adapt, and scale ethical AI solutions that close digital divides rather than widen them.

The call reinforces a growing shift toward evidence-led innovation, urging stakeholders to prioritize AI applications that have been tested, refined, and proven in the field—especially those that center students, teachers, and communities in their design and implementation.

The IDB, Ceibal, and Socialab hope the initiative will not only celebrate success stories but also build a living repository of regional AI-in-education solutions that can inspire and inform policymaking across the Americas.