El Salvador aims to develop "sovereign AI" by purchasing B300 chips and completing the legal framework.
El Salvador is gradually realizing its ambition to become a technology and AI center in Latin America. The country has begun implementing the initiative to build the first national AI laboratory, aiming to develop sovereign AI – a domestic artificial intelligence system designed to serve social and economic development needs.
This laboratory will use Nvidia chips, which the government has already ordered after a meeting between President Nayib Bukele and Aaron Ginn, CEO of Hydra Host – the infrastructure provider. El Salvador has signed a purchase agreement for B300 chips, one of Nvidia's most advanced chip lines, specifically designed for data centers and AI applications. Due to high market demand, these chip shipments are expected to be delivered in September.
The cooperation agreement also includes an educational exchange program with Hydra Host, where the company will organize specialized classes for students in the CUBO_ai program – a national AI initiative of El Salvador. The goal is to train Salvadorans in operating and deploying AI technology components.
Completing the AI Legal Framework
Parallel to technical activities, El Salvador is also working on completing the legal framework for artificial intelligence. In February, Congress passed the AI and Technology Promotion Law to support the integration of this emerging technology into public service areas such as electricity, healthcare, security, and transportation.
More recently, the country has approved one of the world's first robot laws, aimed at regulating the development, use, and ethical management of physical AI – according to information from the El Salvador National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC).
ONBTC believes that this series of actions will help El Salvador surpass larger economies in the region – countries without specific AI strategies – and gradually become the regional leader in technological innovation.
