With the conclusion of the 24th Mexican International Conference on Artificial Intelligence (MICAI 2025), not only did one of the most important scientific events of the year come to a close, but a new chapter was also written in the leadership of the Mexican Society for Artificial Intelligence (SMIA).
During the final plenary session, Dr. Lourdes Martínez, Director of the Master’s Program in Data Science at Universidad Panamericana, presented her end-of-term report (2024–2025) as President of SMIA, and the election of Dr. Hiram Ponce Espinosa, Director of the Center for Innovation and Technological Development at Universidad Panamericana, was announced as the new President of SMIA for the 2026–2028 term.
A Solid Assessment: The Legacy of Dr. Lourdes Martínez
Dr. Martínez’s administration left a lasting impact on SMIA. In reflecting on her tenure, she highlighted the successful organization of two Mexican Conferences on Artificial Intelligence (COMIA 2024 and COMIA 2025) and two editions of the Mexican International Conference on Artificial Intelligence (MICAI 2024 and MICAI 2025), which featured internationally renowned speakers.
One particularly significant achievement she highlighted was the strong turnout of professionals from industry and government at COMIA 2025, held at the UP Mixcoac campus.
Her administration was marked by academic strengthening and greater engagement with external stakeholders.
“We were able to publish the proceedings of these events in Springer and the outreach journal *Komputer Sapiens* in a timely manner, which strengthened the organization’s academic and professional standing and rigor,” she stated.
She also emphasized that one of the cornerstones of her leadership was the increased participation of board members in collaborative forums with industry and government, which helped strengthen ties and generate greater social and economic impact.
At the international level, the establishment of the AAAI Chapter of Mexico marked a significant step forward, expanding SMIA’s reach and influence within the global artificial intelligence community.
In addition to the creation of this chapter and the publication of proceedings by Springer—among the initiatives that brought her the greatest satisfaction—Dr. Martínez mentioned the inclusion of an Industry Intelligent Applications Workshop at COMIA, as well as the review, improvement, and standardization of SMIA’s institutional image.
However, her administration was not without its challenges. She emphasized that the greatest challenge lay in
“understanding the diverse needs of the stakeholders within the national AI ecosystem,”
an effort that, she noted,
“is only possible thanks to the commitment and ongoing support of all SMIA members and the wider community.”
Future Challenges for Artificial Intelligence in Mexico
As her term came to an end, her outlook for the future was clear:
“The artificial intelligence community in Mexico is home to a wealth of talent,”
but it is essential to
“establish effective strategies to retain and continuously train this talent.”
Accordingly, she called for improvements to the country’s technological infrastructure and, above all, for the definition of
“a clear national AI strategy that sets out a vision for promoting the responsible development of this technology.”
As guidance for her successor, Dr. Martínez put forward recommendations focused on four key areas:
- Continued industry–government collaboration
- Planning MICAI's International Outreach
- Proposing AI literacy initiatives
- Planning a women’s gathering at conferences to promote inclusion and gender diversity in the sector
A New Chapter: The Vision of Dr. Hiram Ponce
With the appointment of Dr. Hiram Ponce as President, SMIA is entering a new phase focused on building on the progress made and exploring new growth opportunities.
His strategy to strengthen SMIA’s local impact includes continuing to organize its two flagship conferences (COMIA and MICAI) and further strengthening the scientific outreach journal *Komputer Sapiens*.
He also announced the relaunch of a key initiative: the creation of SMIA student chapters, each led by a faculty researcher, through which the society will facilitate connections with experts and the development of academic seminars.
In addition, strategic partnerships between academia and industry will be fostered to strengthen education and knowledge development in the field of artificial intelligence in Mexico.
To maintain and enhance MICAI’s international reputation, his strategy includes collaborating with more educational institutions and companies from regions outside Mexico, such as North America, Latin America, and Europe.
He also revealed that
“We are currently working on collaborations with AAAI,”
and that efforts to promote the conference abroad will be strengthened through partnerships with foreign embassies in Mexico.
Regarding the crucial issue of the ethical development of artificial intelligence, Dr. Ponce stated:
“At SMIA, we will increase our outreach regarding the opportunities and challenges posed by AI technology,”
and that SMIA will continue
“working closely with other national organizations to promote public policies that support the responsible use of artificial intelligence.”
Opportunities for the Universidad Panamericana
For the Universidad Panamericana , Dr. Ponce’s new role translates into concrete opportunities.
“Drawing on my previous experience and this new role at SMIA, we will be able to forge more partnerships and connections with the artificial intelligence innovation ecosystem across the country,” he said.
Among the possibilities he mentioned are:
- The signing of agreements to promote student and faculty mobility
- The organization of AI-focused seminars at Universidad Panamericana
- The creation of academic chairs in artificial intelligence, among other fields
“Both SMIA and Universidad Panamericana leaders in academic collaboration, with the goal of continuing to educate highly qualified individuals in our country,” he said.
A Shared Future
The leadership transition from Dr. Lourdes Martínez to Dr. Hiram Ponce, both researchers at Universidad Panamericana, marks a new phase of maturity for the Mexican scientific community.
With an ethical vision, social commitment, and academic excellence, SMIA and Universidad Panamericana to lead the advancement of artificial intelligence in Mexico and Latin America.
