Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already transforming the way we produce, learn, work, and make decisions. Thanks to recent advances in generative AI, it is now possible to generate analyses, summaries, and content in seconds.

Will AI replace jobs or create new opportunities for Haiti? Aware of the challenges it presents for the economy and the financial system, the Central Bank of Haiti (BRH) has chosen to adopt a proactive approach to anticipate the opportunities it offers while identifying the risks it raises.

This development represents one of the most significant technological transformations of our time. AI offers considerable productivity gains. However, according to the BRH, it does not replace human judgment or the expertise necessary for decision-making. These tools should be considered decision-support instruments, not substitutes for human intelligence.

AI is pushing back the frontier of production possibilities, offering technologically lagging countries a chance to close the gap. However, with AI funding being highly concentrated (United States, China, etc...), the lack of rapid response from developing countries risks widening the global economic divide. While the impact on employment is currently contained in major economies, the long-term impact on the labor market remains to be assessed, particularly for young people whose jobs are the most easily substitutable.

Priority areas identified by the BRH :

Education : The potential of AI appears particularly promising in education. The training deficit and the migration of a significant portion of skilled workers have reduced the country's capacity to transmit knowledge. In this context, AI offers an exceptional opportunity to replenish the stock of human capital. It can contribute to democratizing access to quality education and offering personalized support to students, while strengthening teachers' skills. Without replacing teachers, AI tools can be a powerful complement to accelerate human capital development.

Administrative Modernization : The modernization of public administration and businesses. The automation of repetitive tasks, the digitization of public and private archives, improved user relations, and the rapid analysis of large amounts of information can significantly increase the productivity of institutions. In a country where administrative constraints remain significant, these efficiency gains could improve the quality of services while reducing operating costs. The potential benefits, both in terms of productivity and impact on the overall economy, are therefore considerable.

Natural Risk Management : Haiti is among the countries in the region most exposed to major natural hazards. AI can transform how the country responds to crises by enabling the collection of real-time geospatial data, predictive simulations, and rapid impact assessments. Such tools would allow authorities to take more targeted measures to mitigate human and financial costs.

Major Risks :

Decline in Diaspora Remittances: These opportunities should not, however, overshadow the risks associated with this transformation. The first stems from the labor market in countries with high concentrations of Haitian immigrants. Should the worst-case scenario materialize, with massive job losses due to automation, diaspora workers would be among the first to be affected. The consequences would directly impact remittances, which have represented the most stable flow of capital to Haiti for decades. The Goldman Sachs study (Peng, 2026) is enlightening in this regard. It establishes that the negative effects of AI on job creation disproportionately affect young and less experienced workers, a profile that corresponds to a large portion of the Haitian workforce abroad.

Cybersecurity : Each new AI model pushes the boundaries of what is technically feasible and, at the same time, significantly lowers the cost of launching cyberattacks. This threat is taken very seriously by international monetary authorities. The central banks of the United States and the United Kingdom have already begun consultations with financial system stakeholders to establish a resilience framework adapted to these new realities.

The BRH's Proactive and Strategic Role :

The BRH refuses to be passive in this revolution and is adopting a proactive approach based on four pillars:

Knowledge Development: As a co-founder of the "Ayiti IA 2025" summit, the BRH has announced the creation of an AI Fund to stimulate discussion and adoption of this technology.

Concrete Application to Research: The Research Directorate (DREF) is already using text-based AI to build new statistical series on the Haitian labor market at low cost.

Core Missions and Supervision: AI will be integrated to strengthen the oversight of the financial system, identify emerging risks, and secure payment systems, while ensuring data protection.

Research and Resilience Agenda: The bank plans stress testing exercises and recommendations to protect the country's financial integrity against cyber threats.

In Conclusion : AI is neither an automatic cure nor an inevitable threat to Haiti. Its success will depend on the country's ability to invest in human capital, governance, and digital infrastructure. The BRH is committed to guiding this transition to make it a driver of stable economic development.

SL/ HaitiLibre