Miguel Díaz-Canel, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, visited the University of Havana today to engage in a dialogue with directors and professors involved in the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Díaz-Canel explained that the visit was part of a series of tours through national institutions, particularly those with experience in digital transformation and the use of advanced technologies, according to a report from the Presidency’s Facebook profile.

The president was accompanied by Miriam Nicado García, rector of the institution; Walter Baluja García, Minister of Higher Education; and Mayra Arevich Marín, Minister of Communications, along with university board members and faculty.

During the meeting, several academic AI projects were presented. These initiatives were developed by the faculties of Physics, Mathematics and Computing, and Social Communication, in coordination with the Ministries of Higher Education and Communications.

Participants emphasized that AI is transforming various spheres of society, reinforcing the urgent need for Cuba to advance in this field from a perspective of national sovereignty. Key points of discussion included:

• The critical importance of possessing and managing national data.

• The impact of AI on education, from primary levels through university.

• The necessity of strengthening the relationship between academia and enterprises.

The presented projects cover strategic sectors such as healthcare, energy, industry, and transportation, with the goal of streamlining and optimizing processes to benefit economic and social development.

While still far from the country's ultimate needs and full potential, the Presidency noted that Cuban universities are actively demonstrating their capabilities in driving technological progress.