AI adoption in Latin America: Leadership, not technology, is the key challenge

Senior executives across Latin America express strong confidence in their organizations' ability to adapt to evolving business landscapes. A study by Michael Page reveals that approximately six out of ten C-level executives and senior leaders believe their companies can navigate change, with Peru (70%), Colombia (67%), and Chile (65%) leading in this optimism. This confidence is notably consistent across different leadership levels within the region.

However, the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) presents a mixed picture. While a significant 73% of executives actively use generative AI in their daily work, the challenge lies in scaling this individual proficiency to achieve organizational impact. Paola Pulgarin, a senior partner at Michael Page Colombia, notes that the primary obstacle is not a lack of capability but rather the absence of a shared vision for implementing change. Martín Gerding, a senior partner for Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, emphasizes that successful AI integration hinges on leadership's ability to foster a unified vision, reduce uncertainty, and translate individual AI skills into competitive advantages for the entire organization.

“

The confidence of leadership teams in Latin America is high, and the difference between leadership levels is less pronounced than in other regions. The risk lies not in a lack of capacity, but in the absence of a shared vision on how to execute change.

On a personal level, executives report substantial benefits from AI usage. The majority, 83%, experience increased individual productivity, while 73% note improvements in work quality and the ability to focus on more complex tasks. Furthermore, a strong majority (nine out of ten) do not perceive AI as a long-term threat to their job security. Looking ahead, six out of ten executives believe AI's growth is influencing their future career decisions, suggesting a proactive engagement with the technology's evolving role.

“

The adoption of AI is not a technological challenge but a leadership one. Management teams that generate greater impact are those capable of building a shared vision, reducing uncertainty, and converting new individual capabilities into competitive advantages for the entire organization.