Legal and scientific AI and technology debates in South Cone

In Chile and Argentina, legislative and academic discussions are emerging regarding the legal and societal implications of new technologies. In Chile, legislative proposals have been introduced to criminalize road homicide and serious injuries, specifically addressing mobile phone use while driving.

Chilean academics continue to debate the risks of artificial intelligence. Marcelo Mendoza of the Pontificia Universidad Católica has warned that Chile is “highly vulnerable” to rapid AI development, noting a contradiction where industry leaders call for regulation while simultaneously releasing increasingly autonomous models. On the scientific front, neuroscientist Martín Montecino is exploring the interdependence between human neural functions and AI. He highlights a significant energy efficiency gap, noting that supercomputers require millions of watts to perform tasks that the human brain accomplishes with approximately 20 watts. This research suggests that the future sustainability of AI may depend on understanding biological neural mechanisms.

In Argentina, legal experts and industrial organizations have petitioned for the removal of provisions concerning decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) from corporate law reforms. Critics argue that AI-managed companies without human oversight make it impossible to assign civil or criminal liability for damages.