Mexico City, May 20, 2025 – With the objective of creating a platform for dialogue around artificial intelligence (AI)—promoting both academic research and industry success stories—the School of Engineering at Universidad Panamericana, Mexico City campus, in collaboration with the Mexican Society for Artificial Intelligence (SMIA), hosted the 17th Mexican Congress on Artificial Intelligence (COMIA 2025).
The opening ceremony featured the participation of prominent figures such as Dr. Claudia Ortega, Director of Research at the Mexico City Campus; Dr. Margarita Hurtado Hernández, Associate Director of the School of Engineering; and Dr. Lourdes Martínez, UP academic and President of both the SMIA and the Congress.
Also in attendance were Dr. Ari Barrera Ánimas, professor and researcher at the School of Engineering; Dr. Bella Martínez, researcher at the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) and Chair of the COMIA 2025 Program; Dr. Obdulia Pichardo, Chair of the Program Committee; and Dr. Hiram Ponce, Vice President of SMIA and faculty member at Universidad Panamericana.
Held from May 12 to 16 on the Panamericana campus, the congress featured keynote lectures, panel discussions, paper presentations, workshops, and tutorials.
Artificial Intelligence in Times of Rapid Change
During her opening remarks, Dr. Margarita Hurtado emphasized:
“Now more than ever, we are aware that we live in a time of rapid and profound change. Artificial intelligence, automation, the Internet of Things, and global connectivity are redefining both the economic and social landscape.”
She added that these technologies present both challenges and opportunities, particularly in engineering education: “Training in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence has become an essential pillar in preparing new generations of engineers and scientists who will lead the transformation toward a more intelligent and sustainable future.”
Dr. Hurtado also highlighted that the School of Engineering has integrated these tools into all its undergraduate and graduate programs to tackle complex problems across multiple fields. The school currently offers six undergraduate degrees, six specializations, five master’s programs, and two doctoral programs—all of which include training in data science and artificial intelligence.
AI: One of the Most Influential Technological Forces of Our Time
Dr. Claudia Ortega underscored: “Artificial intelligence is one of the most influential technological forces of our time, with the potential to transform industries and solve complex problems. However, it also poses ethical, social, and economic challenges that must be addressed responsibly.”
She further stated: “It is essential to foster ongoing dialogue among researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and society to guide the development of AI for the collective good. Universidad Panamericana reaffirms its commitment to this critical issue.”
Later, Dr. Lourdes Martínez reflected on the evolution of the congress:
“COMIA is no longer solely an academic event. Today, it also brings together representatives from industry, government, and various disciplines.”
This year, the congress received 207 paper submissions, published for the first time in both English and Spanish. Contributions came from Peru, Colombia, Spain, India, and the United States, as well as from 22 Mexican states. In total, 96 papers and 32 posters were presented.
COMIA 2025: An Academic, Industrial, and Social Forum
The first keynote lecture, titled “Toward Responsible AI: Promoting Equity, Explainability, and Scalable Interpretability”, was delivered by Nitesh Chawla, researcher at the University of Notre Dame.
Chawla addressed the importance of balancing AI model performance with transparency, explainability, and fairness—especially in contexts where accountability and social impact are paramount. He also proposed methodological frameworks that enable these objectives without compromising effectiveness.
In the panel discussion “AI and Public Policy: A Dialogue on the Present and Future of Mexico”, participants included Laura Enríquez, President Commissioner of InfoCDMX; Pablo Corona, President of the Internet Association of Mexico; Marco Moreno from SECTI-CDMX; and Jorge Ordelín from CIDE. The panel was moderated by Dr. Guillermo Tenorio, Dean of the School of Government and Economics at Universidad Panamericana.
The discussion focused on the urgent need to establish public policies to regulate AI development, promote education in the field, and ensure the protection of human rights during implementation.
The panel “AI and Industrial Development: Building a Competitive Future for Mexico” featured Abelardo Colunga, AI Sales Specialist at Google; Adriana Gómez, Director of Cloud Architecture, Data, and AI at Microsoft Azure; Manuel O’Brien, Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs at IBM and AMITI; and Rodrigo Olivares, Senior Manager of Data Analytics and AI at Nissan.
Moderated by Mr. Ismael Medina, Senior Consultant in Data and AI at Microsoft Mexico, the panel explored the use of AI technologies in industry from the perspective of digital service providers and client success stories. Key principles for industrial development through AI were shared, along with trends in innovation and competitiveness anticipated in Mexico in the coming years.
Finally, the keynote lecture “Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity”, delivered by Dr. Raúl Monroy, professor and researcher at Tecnológico de Monterrey, examined the role of large language models (LLMs) in cybersecurity. He outlined their advantages, risks, and vulnerabilities, and proposed strategies for the safer and more effective use of these technologies.
Institutional Commitment to Digital Transformation
Through initiatives such as COMIA 2025, the School of Engineering at Universidad Panamericana strengthens its position as an institution of international influence that promotes dialogue and research in service of society.
Learn more about the School of Engineering at: https://www.up.edu.mx/educacion-universidad-facultad-de-ingenieria/
