The UWI Five Islands Campus FIC hosted its second annual 5IR Artificial Intelligence Annual Research Conference, from June 23-24, 2025, themed ‘Bridging Digital Frontiers: AI For Caribbean Sustainability’.

Caribbean AI Vision 2040

The conference culminated in a forward-looking panel titled “Vision 2040: Forecasting the Caribbean’s AI-Driven Future.” Gathering experts from across the region and beyond, the panel explored how artificial intelligence can be harnessed to improve quality of life in the Caribbean, while warning against the risk of deepening existing inequalities. Keynote speakers, including Dr Christopher Jones, Ambassador Walton Aubrey Webbson, Minister Melford Nicholas, Mr Enrique Zapata, and Professor Patrick Hosein, offered a shared vision for 2040 that places AI at the heart of urban planning, healthcare, governance, and education. Dr Jones emphasised designing AI solutions tailored to the Caribbean’s unique urban-rural blend, while Zapata highlighted the need for a responsive public sector to keep pace with rapid technological change. Ambassador Webbson called for cultural and institutional transformation, particularly in public health, to address challenges like non-communicable diseases. Minister Nicholas predicted a future in which digital identities enable virtual elections and hybrid parliamentary sessions, and Professor Hosein stressed the use of AI for good, especially in tourism and climate resilience. With over 500 participants, the conference reflected optimism and a collective commitment to shaping an inclusive, AI-powered Caribbean future.