Artificial Intelligence in International Cooperation: Can Spain Contribute to Solidarity AI?

Without seeking or deserving it, the cooperation sector has become the punching bag of international news. It's taking so many hits in so few months that some are wondering if there's life after this muscular version of snub-nose diplomacy and the pursuit of disagreements.

Not only does it exist, but it could arrive at the right time. Development cooperation has been self-absorbed for too long, absorbed in a logic of solidarity with sometimes questionable and often invisible results. This moment could offer the jolt we need to revitalize reflection and action, guided by the only clear and concrete factor that offers an opportunity for real change. We are not referring to financial aid, nor to a renewal of the institutions that have overseen cooperation for decades (which undoubtedly need reform), but to the evolution and impact of digital technologies and, in particular, Artificial Intelligence (AI).

AI can captivate and frighten us in equal measure. But the most important thing is that it has ceased to be science fiction and has gradually become a part of our daily lives. Since ChatGPT burst into our lives, we have become aware of its disruptive potential, for better and for worse. Now is the time to explore an even greater power: algorithms that foster the development of people and the planet.

It is necessary to continue raising awareness about the need for regulatory frameworks, standards and responsible practices that turn AI into an instrument for human development.

A promising trend is emerging, although it is still in its infancy. Think of AI systems that analyze satellite images to predict droughts and optimize water management in arid areas. Or algorithms that personalize education for each child, overcoming the limitations of overcrowded classrooms and a lack of teaching resources. Or projects that rely on AI to diagnose diseases like malaria with astonishing accuracy from blood samples, even in remote locations without access to specialists. The spectrum of possibilities for systematizing knowledge, optimizing processes, reducing costs, and developing more effective solutions is practically revolutionary. But only if we manage it well.

AI poses significant risks, such as the reproduction of biases and the lack of algorithmic transparency. This is already one of the great battlegrounds of our time, and taking sides is critical and urgent. On the one hand, it is necessary to continue raising awareness about the need for regulatory frameworks, standards, and responsible practices that transform AI into a tool for human development. For example, through the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI , adopted by its 193 member countries.

On the other hand, in an international context experiencing unprecedented turbulence in the last 30 years, we cannot ignore the fact that some powers are inclined toward a more utilitarian or even authoritarian approach to AI. Therefore, both the EU and its Member States must lead an alternative model, based on ethics, human rights, and sustainable development, and interconnected with like-minded countries. The recent approval of the European AI Regulation (AI Act) is a step in that direction, and the creation of a broad space for cooperation in responsible AI should become a strategic asset in the coming years.

In this context, Spain is building a solid technological foundation. There is already a National AI Strategy , investments are being made with European funds from the Recovery Plan, and a very dynamic State Secretariat for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA) has been created. At the same time, we have the European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency (ECAT) in Seville, and the Spanish AI Oversight Agency (AESIA) has just been established in A Coruña in 2024. The recent launch of ALIA , the Spanish AI model, further supports this decisive commitment.

Spanish official cooperation remains trapped in a certain analogical inertia. It needs to demonstrate that it understands the importance of AI's impact.

However, this momentum at the national level has not been translated into foreign action. It would be unfair to say that there are no initiatives in this regard, such as, for example, in the context of cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean. But in general, Spanish official cooperation remains trapped in a certain analogical inertia. It needs to demonstrate that it understands the importance of the impact of AI and that it has the will to provide that understanding with sufficient resources, ambition, and continuity.

What would be the next steps to integrate AI as a cross-cutting priority across Spanish foreign action? First, define an AI for Development (AI4D) strategy (including funding lines). Second, promote a portfolio of innovative AI projects in priority sectors for partner countries (health, agriculture, education, climate action, governance, etc.). Third, participate in projects with countries with greater experience and resources, for example, through European initiatives. Fourth, promote AI4D training in partner countries, as well as for Spanish cooperation personnel. Ultimately, it is about activating the nascent Spanish AI ecosystem for its impact on our foreign action.

The cooperation sector faces a challenge it must not ignore and, at the same time, a great opportunity to inject new energy into the development agenda and contribute to responsible governance of AI. In Spain, it would also encourage multiple objectives, such as defending a pan-European vision of AI that promotes human development, raising awareness about cybersecurity, promoting a "Digital Spain Brand," opening new avenues for business collaboration, and, of course, improving the performance and management of Spanish cooperation itself.

Our country still has time to join the leading pack. Both in terms of geopolitics and technological acceleration. But there's no time to waste. The time to become a protagonist of a supportive and responsible AI is now.