Mexico City, December 16, 2025. With the closing 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 an end, but a new chapter was also written in the history of the Mexican Society for Artificial Intelligence (SMIA).
In the final plenary session, Dr. Lourdes Martínez, head of academia for the Master's Degree in Data Science at the Universidad Panamericana, presented her end-of-term report (2024-2025) as president of the SMIA, and the election of Dr. Hiram Ponce Espinosa, director of the Center for Innovation and Technological Development at the Universidad Panamericana, as the new president of SMIA for the 2026-2028 term.
A solid legacy: the legacy of Dr. Lourdes Martínez
Dr. Martínez's leadership left a profound mark on SMIA. Looking back on her tenure, highlights include the successful hosting of two Mexican Congresses on Artificial Intelligence (COMIA 2024 and COMIA 2025) and two international conferences, the Mexican International Conference on Artificial Intelligence (MICAI 2024 and MICAI 2025), which featured internationally renowned guests.
A particularly significant achievement highlighted by the academic was the large participation of industry and government professionals in COMIA 2025 held at UP Mixcoac.
His administration was characterized by academic strengthening and outreach. "We managed to publish the proceedings of these events in Springer and the popular science magazine Komputer Sapiens in a timely manner, which reinforced the organization's academic and professional presence and rigor,"he says.
Similarly, he emphasized that one of the pillars of his administration was the increased participation of board members in forums for collaboration with industry and government, which strengthened ties and generated greater social and economic impact.
Internationally, the creation of the AAAI Chapter of Mexico marked a significant step forward, expanding the SMIA's reach and influence in the global artificial intelligence community.
In addition to the creation of this chapter and the publication of reports in Springer, among the initiatives that gave him the greatest satisfaction, he mentions the inclusion of a Workshop on Intelligent Industry Applications in COMIA and the review, improvement, and standardization of the SMIA image.
However, his management was not without challenges. He emphasized that the biggest challenge lies in "understanding the diverse needs of the actors in the national AI ecosystem,", an effort that, he points out, "is only possible thanks to the commitment and ongoing support of all members of the SMIA and the community at large.".
Future challenges for AI in Mexico
As he leaves office, his vision for the future is clear: "The artificial intelligence community in Mexico has great human talent,", but it is imperative "to establish effective strategies to retain and continuously train this talent.".
He therefore calls for improvements to the country's technological infrastructure and, above all, for the definition of "a clear national AI strategy that articulates the vision of how the responsible development of the technology will be promoted,", he states.
As a guide for her successor, Dr. Martínez offers recommendations focused on four key areas:
- Continue interaction between industry and government.
- Plan MICAI's international projection.
- Propose instances of AI literacy.
- Plan a women's gathering at events to promote gender inclusion and diversity in the sector.
The new stage: Dr. Hiram Ponce's vision
With the arrival of Dr. Hiram Ponce as president, SMIA is embarking on a new phase focused on consolidating the progress made and exploring new opportunities for growth. Its strategy to strengthen SMIA's local impact includes continuing to organize its two flagship conferences (COMIA and MICAI) and further strengthening its popular science magazine. Komputer Sapiens.
It announces the revival of a key figure: the creation of SMIA student chapters led by a professor-researcher, where the society will help connect experts and develop seminars. In addition, strategic alliances between academia and industry will be promoted to strengthen education and knowledge in artificial intelligence in Mexico.
To maintain and enhance MICAI's international prestige, its strategy involves collaborating with more educational institutions and companies from regions outside Mexico, such as North America, Latin America, and Europe. It also reveals "we are currently working on links with the AAAI" and that the promotion of the congress outside the country will be strengthened through relations with the embassies of different countries in Mexico.
On the crucial issue of the ethical development of AI, Dr. Ponce states: "At SMIA, we will raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges facing AI technology" and will continue "working hand in hand with other national agencies to promote public policies aligned with the responsible use of AI."
For the Universidad Panamericana community, his new position translates into concrete opportunities. "Through my previous experience and this new position at SMIA, we will be able to forge more alliances and links with the innovation ecosystem in the field of artificial intelligence in the country,"he says.
Among the possibilities, he mentions:
- Signing of agreements for student and teacher mobility.
- Holding seminars on AI topics at Panamericana.
- The creation of academic chairs in AI, among others.
"Both SMIA and Universidad Panamericana leaders in academic collaboration with the goal of continuing to train highly qualified individuals within our country,"he states.
A shared future
The handover between Dr. Lourdes Martínez and Dr. Hiram Ponce, both researchers at the Universidad Panamericana, marks a new stage of maturity for the Mexican scientific community. With ethical vision, social commitment, and academic excellence, SMIA and UP continue to guide the advancement of Artificial Intelligence in Mexico and Latin America.
Learn more about our university's research projects at: https://www.up.edu.mx/investigacion-noticias/
