President Lula Champions Portuguese-Language AI and National Supercomputing Investment

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has emphasized the development of a Brazilian artificial intelligence (AI) system that operates in Portuguese, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign technologies from countries like China and the United States. Speaking in an interview with Band, Lula reiterated his call, first made two years ago, to the National Council of Science and Technology to create this national AI infrastructure.

Central to this initiative is a major government investment of R$ 1.06 billion in a supercomputer located in Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte. This supercomputer, boasting a processing power of 7,200 petaflops, is part of the Brazilian Artificial Intelligence Plan (PBIA) and is expected to become operational by the end of 2027. The facility will support universities, research centers, private companies, and public agencies, facilitating Brazilian technological sovereignty.

In addition to the Macaíba supercomputer, a second project involves a partnership with Chinese firms Huawei and iFlytek to build another supercomputer in Rio de Janeiro at a cost of R$ 1.3 billion, slated to start operations in July 2027. Despite efforts to foster technological independence, the dependence on Chinese technology remains notable with this partnership.

Lula also stresses the importance of governing AI in a manner respectful of each nation’s specific needs and characteristics, calling for frameworks that ensure AI respects cultural and national priorities.

By investing heavily in indigenous computing infrastructure and AI development, Lula’s administration aims to establish Brazil as a leader in Latin American technology, while reducing dependencies on foreign technology providers and enhancing national security and innovation capabilities.