Miguel Díaz-Canel has called for the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence in Cuba, vowing to achieve "technological sovereignty" during a meeting with professors from the University of Havana, as reported by the state-run Prensa Latina.
Addressing scholars from the departments of Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Social Communication, the Cuban leader examined AI projects emerging from academia. This took place within a series of visits to institutions involved in digital transformation.
He also engaged in discussions with officials from the Ministries of Higher Education and Communications.
The Office of the Presidency highlighted that during this gathering, it was emphasized that AI is reshaping all facets of society. Therefore, it is crucial for Cuba to hasten its journey toward national sovereignty.
The strategic importance of possessing proprietary national data was discussed, along with the transformative impact of this technology on education from primary to university levels, the academia-industry relationship, and the necessity of fostering a digital culture in society, according to the media outlet.
The Push for Technological Independence
For months, the regime has been crafting a narrative centered on technological sovereignty. In November 2025, the Cuban Artificial Intelligence Consortium was established with 22 founding members, including the University of Havana, the University of Information Sciences (UCI), the José Antonio Echeverría Higher Polytechnic Institute (CUJAE), the state telecommunications company ETECSA, BioCubaFarma, and the Ministry of Communications.
During that same month, the regime expressed ambitions to develop homegrown AI through initiatives like "Cecilia," a generative language model trained on Cuban text corpora to understand Caribbean Spanish.
In April 2025, Díaz-Canel signed an agreement with Russia to promote AI through a joint laboratory, and in January of that year, Cuba joined the BRICS+ artificial intelligence network.
Challenges Amid Digital Transformation
The gap between official rhetoric and the country's reality is stark. Less than 8% of Cuban households have internet access, ranking Cuba as the second-worst in Latin America for connectivity, only ahead of Haiti.
In December 2025, a power outage disrupted signal for over 50% of radio bases in Havana and Pinar del Río, while Santiago de Cuba struggled with just 3% coverage after its infrastructure collapsed.
This connectivity crisis is compounded by ETECSA's "rate hike" in May 2025, which made internet access prohibitively expensive for most Cubans. The rate allows for only 6 GB of data for 360 Cuban pesos before requiring payment in foreign currency, with a minimum wage of barely 2,100 pesos.
Cuba's digital transformation is progressing at a snail's pace, and the international community is taking notice. In February 2026, Estonia halted funding for the "Cuba Digital" project, which was backed by three million euros from the European Union, citing discrepancies between modernization goals and the Island's political realities.
Understanding Cuba's Technological Ambitions
What is the goal of Cuba's AI advancements?
The primary aim is to achieve technological sovereignty by developing homegrown AI technologies and fostering a digital culture across various sectors of society.
What challenges does Cuba face in its digital transformation?
Cuba struggles with poor internet connectivity, high costs of access, and infrastructure issues, which hinder its progress in digital transformation.
How has the international community responded to Cuba's digital efforts?
The international community, exemplified by Estonia's recent suspension of funding, has begun to question the viability of Cuba's digital modernization efforts due to inconsistencies between stated goals and actual political conditions.