Who we are
The Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre is the Caribbean's first and largest centre
dedicated to advancing research, capacity building, commercialization, and policy and governance in the
field of
Artificial Intelligence (AI). Established at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine the AIIC
currently
partners with 20+ institutions, houses 50+ members and hosts over 35+ projects.
The AIIC's work spans both core AI research and development, including advancements in AI theory,
hardware, and software systems. Applied AI, addressing challenges across domains such as robotics,
cybersecurity, energy, sustainability, climate resilience, agriculture, and the digital humanities.
As a multidisciplinary centre, the AIIC also leads initiatives in AI policy, governance, and ethics, as
well as AI and society, exploring intersections with education, finance, environment and culture. The
Centre is committed to building capacity in AI through degree programmes, short course offerings, and
hands-on research experiences.
Beyond academia, the AIIC actively contributes to developing the regional AI ecosystem, supporting
governments, industries, and organizations across the Caribbean in their AI adoption and transformation
journeys, helping to ensure that the benefits of AI are inclusive, sustainable, and relevant.
Our Story
The Intelligent Systems Lab (ISL) was founded in 2018 in the Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. Within less than a year, the original group of 3 expanded
into 10 and the growth of the lab continued into the 45+ member body that comprises the AIIC today. At
its inception, the lab focussed on intelligent systems integrated enabling technologies- “innovations
that, when deployed independently or in conjunction with complementary technologies, drive
transformative advances in performance capabilities or catalyse fundamental shifts in user and cultural
possibilities.” As the lab continued to grow in members, so too did its research scope and the
disciplines which it engaged, allowing its initiatives, projects and policies to extend far beyond the
parameters of its initial scope and the realms of engineering.
We are actively engaged in democratizing access to AI training, tools, and research infrastructure,
thereby lowering barriers to innovation for communities, businesses, and public institutions. Advancing
AI theory, systems, and applications remains a core priority of the AIIC. Our work focuses on developing
locally built foundational and applied AI systems, some of which are open-sourced for the wider
community. Locally developed AI solutions, grounded in regional understanding—are essential to reducing
dependency on imported systems that often fail to reflect Caribbean realities. Moreover, we remain
committed to providing guidelines and frameworks to help navigate ethical challenges such as
misinformation, algorithmic bias, privacy, and security in a regionally informed and globally
responsible manner.
Our Objectives
- Driving cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence, intelligent systems, and enabling
technologies by
fostering innovation and multi-disciplinary collaboration, developing safe and impactful
applications, and
contributing to global intellectual leadership.
- Shaping and guiding regional policy through research-driven insights, targeted education, public
discourse,
and academic symposia/conferences.
- Serving as a strategic outreach and innovation hub that connects UWI's resources to regional and
international technology industries through consulting, pilot projects, multimedia engagement, and
technical
services.
- Generating revenue for the UWI through product and service commercialization, training and research
activities.
- Establishing a robust, sustainable, commercialization and innovation-driven research agenda through
partnerships, competitive grants, regional and international collaborations.
- Partnering with the UWI's faculties and departments for the creation of educational programmes that
integrate or develop AI.
