A crowd dressed as Gandalf protested outside Peter Thiel’s Buenos Aires mansion in August, symbolizing the feverish debate over tech influence in Argentina.
Libertarian President Javier Milei declared the country a future “hub for artificial intelligence,” promising minimal regulation and a plan for “non-human corporations” run by AI agents. Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Milei said Argentina aims to be the world’s most competitive location for AI development.
The stance has sparked backlash from leftwing lawmakers and activists who accuse Milei of turning Argentina into a “laboratory” for tech leaders. Yet analysts note that foundational AI models are developed in distant hubs like the US, Asia, and Europe, making local discourse disconnected from economic reality. “These conversations don’t make sense here,” says Daniel Yankelevich of Fundar.
Despite ideological rhetoric, Argentina has strengths: abundant energy, a thriving software sector, and the most $1bn+ startups in Latin America. However, infrastructure gaps and economic instability deter investment. High-profile projects—like a $25bn data centre for Open AI and a government AI surveillance programme—have stalled. The departure of Milei adviser Demian Reidel amid a corruption scandal further slowed momentum. Analysts say the gap between AI ambitions and actionable policy remains wide.
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