Earlier this month, the Federal Government launched the Brazilian Artificial Intelligence Plan (PBIA), which aims to guide the development and ethical and sustainable application of artificial intelligence in Brazil. The plan covers guidelines ranging from research and development to the regulation of practices that ensure citizens’ security and privacy.

The proposal, titled “AI for the Good of All,” calls for investments totaling approximately R$ 23 billion over four years, with funding from the public sector, the private sector, and other sources. The Plan encompasses five pillars: 1) AI Infrastructure and Development; 2) AI Dissemination, Education, and Training; 3) AI for Improving Public Services; 4) AI for Business Innovation; and 5) Support for the AI Regulatory and Governance Process.

Plans also call for the acquisition of a supercomputer that is expected to rank among the five most powerful in the world, which is essential for processing large volumes of data and developing advanced AI algorithms. The proposal for the new plan can beviewed here.

Education Will Receive Funding from the PBIA

The Ministry of Education (MEC) announced that it will also be part of the first PBIA. One of the funding sources, with a contribution of R$ 817 million for educational initiatives, will focus on creating undergraduate courses and programs, graduate scholarships, promoting research and development, technical training courses for teachers and school staff, as well as initiatives to promote inclusion and accessibility in educational settings.

Other MEC initiatives include the implementation of AI-based solutions for processing and analyzing receipts for food purchases, with the goal of ensuring the quality of the food purchased, as well as a smart management system to track school attendance among elementary and middle school students, aimed at addressing school dropout and truancy.

Other initiatives include adaptive solutions using generative AI to support teachers and school administrators in evaluating student activities, with the goal of improving interventions in literacy, as well as support systems that incorporate positive psychology, generative AI, and intelligent tutoring systems to promote learning and well-being.

USP Professors Evaluate the PBIA

In a statement posted on the USP São Carlos website, faculty members at the Institute of Mathematical and Computer Sciences (ICMC) of the University of São Paulo (USP) in São Carlos expressed optimism about the launch of the PBIA.

Professor André de Carvalho, director of USP’s ICMC in São Carlos, attended two meetings at the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI), where suggestions for the plan were discussed. He believes that the PBIA will have a significant impact in several areas, including the strengthening of institutions such as the ICMC.

“The plan will bring significant benefits to our institute, especially in training researchers and advancing our research in artificial intelligence. Through investment in infrastructure and the inclusion of relevant challenges, the PBIA will strengthen our position on the global stage and drive scientific and technological development in Brazil,” says André Carvalho.

For Professor Alexandre Delbem of the ICMC, the new national AI strategy has provided clearer and more well-defined guidelines compared to previous plans, which were often confusing or contradictory. “This shift in approach is essential for technological advancement,” he said in the statement.

Fernando Osório, who is also a professor at ICMC, emphasized the importance of Brazil positioning itself strategically on the international stage—collaborating with other countries while also defending its own interests and highlighting its expertise in specific data available in Portuguese. “It is crucial that Brazil, as it seeks global partnerships, not only contribute its knowledge but also ensure that its unique characteristics—such as its social, cultural, and linguistic traits—are recognized and preserved,” he said.

Sources:Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation;Ministry of Education;USP São Carlos website.

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