Nonie de la Peña, Cronkite Professor of Practice, co-authored the 2024 LDC U.S. Latino Technologists Report: AI, released this month, which tracks the important role Latinos are playing in the growth of artificial intelligence technologies across the country.
Among other trends, the report found that Latinos are early adopters of AI: Latino-owned businesses are using AI technology at twice the rate of their white counterparts, for example. Latino teens and young adults are also outperforming their white counterparts in using AI in information, image creation and music production.
The report also highlights the important role of Latinos in the AI workforce: Since 2018, the growth rate of Latinos in AI technology jobs (58.7%) has outpaced the growth rate of the overall U.S. population (25.8%).
“This report offers important insights into an often-overlooked community and its impact on this emerging technology industry,” said de la Peña. “It highlights the critical role Latinos are playing in the AI revolution, from driving breakthrough innovation to transforming the workforce through increased representation in key tech industries.”
The report finds that changing U.S. demographics position Latinos to play key roles in the tech workforce, but challenges remain, especially in senior leadership roles, and offers recommendations for government, education and industry leaders to support advancements in AI.
De la Peña co-authored the report with Guillermo Diaz, former chief information officer at Cisco, which was produced by the Latino Donor Collaborative (LDC) in partnership with Connectored and Wells Fargo.
De la Peña directs Arizona State University’s Master’s in Narrative and Emerging Media, a program co-led by the Cronkite School and the Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts. In this unique program located in the heart of the Los Angeles media scene, students learn to direct, produce and create impactful content using cutting-edge technologies in emerging media, including virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, AI and experiential media.
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