La Jornada: Mexico versus AI: between the external push and the lag in productivity

Artificial intelligence (AI) already drives global value chains, technological exports and investment decisions. Mexico is not outside of that wave.

The problem is another: while the country is gaining ground as a supplier in sectors linked to this technology, behind closed doors adoption continues to lag behind.

The rise of AI opens a window for the Mexican economy, especially due to its integration with North America. Sectors such as computing and electronics have shown notable dynamism in exports, driven by the growing demand for associated technology, according to an analysis by BBVA Research, the bank’s economic analysis area.

This position, the financial firm assures, places the country as a relevant link in the regional technological chain. However, this progress coexists with a structural lag: the adoption of AI in production processes is low, which “evidence a structural gap in productivity.”

Exporting technology is not the same as using it

The contrast is clear. On the one hand, manufacturing linked to technology gains weight in exports. On the other hand, companies from different sectors operate with limited levels of digitalization. This disconnect reduces the potential impact of AI on productivity.

According to BBVA, Mexico faces a paradox: it is part of value chains that demand high technology, but it is unable to transfer that dynamism to its internal market. The consequence is an economy that grows through external integration, not through internal transformation.

This delay does not respond to a single cause. There are at least three fronts that limit the adoption of AI in the country: infrastructure, digitalization and human capital.

In energy matters, the availability and quality of supply are key for technology-intensive industries. Added to this is the need for more robust digital networks, capable of supporting automated processes and handling large volumes of data.

The other front is the formation of human capital specialized in advanced technologies, which has not yet reached the pace demanded by demand. Without sufficient technical profiles, the incorporation of AI into production processes becomes slower and more expensive.

Despite these challenges, the proximity to the United States, the manufacturing base and participation in global chains offer opportunities to scale towards higher value-added segments.

BBVA points out that the opportunities lie in the development of talent and integration into segments with greater added value in technological chains.

The development of talent and investment in technological capabilities can allow Mexico to not only assemble or export components, but also participate in more complex stages of the production process, where greater generation of value is concentrated.

In this sense, AI is not only a technological tool, but a factor of industrial reconfiguration. Its adoption can redefine the competitiveness of entire sectors.

The risk of staying halfway

If internal adoption does not advance, the country runs the risk of consolidating itself as a supplier in technological chains without fully taking advantage of its benefits.

BBVA recognizes that there is a gap between external dynamism and internal adoption of these technologies, which limits their impact on productivity.

As the economy shifts toward technology-intensive use, Mexico’s relative position will depend less on its geographic location and more on its ability to integrate these developments.

AI is already part of the new global productive map. Mexico has a place on that map, but it has not yet defined its depth.

The dilemma is clear: maintain an insertion based on traditional advantages or move towards broader technological integration. In the middle is an economy that exports innovation, but has not yet incorporated it on a widespread basis.