On the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, the Digi Americas Alliance and the World Bank, in collaboration with Apple and Coursera, convened a high-level event, “AI, Security, and Human Capital: Preparing the Workforce for Tomorrow.” Tied to this year’s General Assembly theme, “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights,” the discussion explored how artificial intelligence is shaping the workforce of the future.

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a technological trend, it is transforming the very nature of work. While it promises breakthroughs in productivity, innovation, and economic growth, it also introduces pressing challenges for security and trust. From AI-driven cyberattacks to the viral spread of disinformation, societies must prepare for a future where human capital is as critical for defending against misuse as it is for unlocking AI’s potential.

The event opened with remarks from Yolanda Martinez, Practice Manager for Digital LAC at the World Bank Group, and Belisario Contreras, Executive Director of the Digi Americas Alliance. Together, they set the stage by emphasizing the importance of cultivating human capital that is adaptable, innovative, and resilient, qualities that are essential to unlocking economic opportunity and safeguarding security in the era of AI.

The first fireside chat followed, featuring José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), in conversation with Mario de la Cruz, Head of Government Affairs for LATAM at Apple. Their discussion centered on the economic challenges and opportunities facing Latin America, with Secretary Salazar-Xirinachs underscoring the region’s workforce struggles and security risks. Both speakers highlighted the need for investment in skilling and reskilling around AI, as well as stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, to help the region stay ahead of the curve and prepare its workforce for the future.

Following the fireside chat, a panel of global leaders explored how AI is reshaping economies,  and creating opportunities for innovation and growth. In addition to new opportunities, AI introduces new risks such as cyberattacks, disinformation, and workforce disruption, that require resilient and adaptable human capital.

The panel featured:

• Mauricio Benavides, CEO of Batuta (Moderator)
• Kemba Walden, President, Paladin Global Institute
• Zac Rule, Vice President, Coursera
• Hon. E. Jay Saunders, Minister of Innovation, Technology, and Energy, Turks and Caicos Islands
• Sofia Pérez, Mexican Association of the Information Technology Industry (AMITI)
• Isabel Rioja-Scott, Division Chief, AI Workforce Enablement, Center for Data Analytics, U.S. Department of State

Their conversation revolved around three guiding questions:

1. How do we build the right skills for the AI era?
2. How do we embed security and trust into workforce development?
3. How can governments, industry, and education systems collaborate across borders?
   
   

Speakers offered perspectives from government, industry, and international organizations, converging on the importance of collective action. The panel highlighted three key takeaways: the urgent need to develop future-ready skills, the role of innovative education and training models, and the importance of government leadership and a security-first mindset across all workforce strategies.

To conclude the event, Sangbu Kim, Vice President for Digital at the World Bank Group, shared his vision for the future of the workforce in regions such as Latin America. Drawing on his experience at the World Bank, he emphasized the foundations needed to build digital-first economies: strengthening digital and data infrastructure, safeguarding cybersecurity and data privacy for institutions, businesses, and citizens, and advancing digital government services.

The discussions throughout the day made clear that preparing the workforce for the age of AI cannot be the responsibility of any one actor. Success will depend on the entire digital ecosystem of governments, industry, academia, and civil society working together. Collaborative investment in digital education, reskilling, and innovative public-private partnerships will be critical. This event marked an important step in that direction, but it is only the beginning of a broader effort already underway.

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