Caribbean countries risk being left behind if they continue to treat artificial intelligence as a talking point instead of a development priority, according to Liberty Caribbean CEO Inge Smidts, who spoke marking this year’s International Girls in ICT Day. Smidts said the region must move quickly from experimentation to real-world use, stating that “AI must become a regional development priority to unlock new possibilities across our economies.” She argued that access to technology is no longer enough, and that governments and companies need to show measurable gains from digital investment, focusing on skills, tools and opportunities that translate into productivity. The issue of inclusion featured heavily in this year’s activities, held under the theme “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future.” Flow Trinidad partnered with regional stakeholders on the ‘Tech4Girls: Make AI Work for You’ initiative, targeting young women across Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. The two-day hybrid programme exposed participants to emerging AI concepts, including Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), while also focusing on leadership, branding and digital resilience. Liberty Caribbean said its broader strategy is to build out connectivity while also developing local talent pipelines, particularly among women and underserved communities.