Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a technology of the distant future. It is actively transforming companies, reshaping occupations, and altering business models at an unprecedented speed.

The critical question for Costa Rica is no longer whether AI will impact our labor market—it is already here. Instead, we must ask: Are we truly prepared to reap its benefits and mitigate its risks?

To navigate this transition successfully, Costa Rica urgently needs a comprehensive national artificial intelligence strategy focused on three pillars: employment, productivity, and social inclusion. Above all, we must define who will lead this crucial process.

What the Global Experts Say: Opportunity vs. Displacement

International economic and labor literature offers a clear message regarding the double-edged nature of automation:

• The Risk of Inequality: Renowned economists Daron Acemoglu and Pascual Restrepo warn that automation can rapidly replace certain tasks and significantly increase social inequalities if local economies do not adapt in a timely manner.
• The Productivity Boost: Conversely, researchers like David Autor, Erik Brynjolfsson, and Andrew McAfee highlight that AI complements human labor. It creates entirely new occupations and can drive massive productivity gains.

There is an overwhelming global consensus among organizations like the OECD, IDB, World Bank, ILO, and the IMF: the ultimate impact of AI on employment will largely depend on the specific policies and capabilities that each country develops to manage this transition.

Costa Rica’s Extraordinary Competitive Edge

For a small, open economy like Costa Rica’s, AI represents an extraordinary opportunity rather than just a disruption.

The country has already proven its capacity to successfully integrate into global, knowledge-intensive activities. Costa Rica is already a recognized hub for:

• Business and digital services
• Advanced manufacturing
• High-tech medical devices

By proactively implementing an AI labor policy, Costa Rica could drastically strengthen these existing advantages. The right strategy will allow the nation to generate new high-value exports, improve overall productivity, and open up dynamic spaces for innovative local ventures.

The future of Costa Rican labor is being rewritten right now; it is up to public and private leadership to ensure we hold the pen.

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