Imaginaries of Artificial Intelligence in Mexico: a review of pre-normative documents

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is currently in a developmental stage preceding its technological consolidation, which underscores the importance of the discourses that anticipate its future in production, regulation, and state priorities. This paper proposes a theoretical framework for analyzing narratives about AI in Mexico, examining approaches such as sociotechnical imaginaries and other conceptual frameworks, including technoscientific imaginaries and sociotechnical vanguards. The aim is to assess their applicability in prenormative documents that recommend public policies. Three documents are analyzed: one produced by a Mexican coalition and two by the OECD, in order to identify prevailing visions of AI and their influences. The findings reveal that Mexican perspectives are not unified but rather heterogeneous, suggesting that the sociotechnical vanguards approach is more suitable for understanding this diversity. This framework makes it possible to capture the expectations and tensions shaping AI in Mexico, highlighting its emergent and non-stabilized nature.