Cathie Wood, the founder and CEO of Ark Invest, is set to deliver the first lecture for El Salvador’s groundbreaking Urban Centers for Welfare and Opportunities (CUBO) AI program—marking a major milestone in the country’s push to become a regional tech powerhouse.
CUBO AI: A National Effort to Dominate the AI Frontier
Unveiled by El Salvador’s Bitcoin Office, the CUBO AI program will provide university-level artificial intelligence education to both students and professionals. The initiative is modeled after the country’s earlier success with CUBO Bitcoin and Lightning Network developer programs, which aimed to upskill the local workforce in blockchain and crypto technologies.
Unlike traditional educational efforts, CUBO AI will bring in leading industry experts to teach and mentor participants. El Salvador’s Bitcoin Office emphasized the program’s ambition in a March 23 announcement:
“As El Salvador turbocharges its transformation into the ultimate tech and financial powerhouse of the region, CUBO AI will arm students and professionals in the country with the tools to dominate the AI frontier.”
Cathie Wood Backs Bukele’s Vision
Cathie Wood’s involvement highlights growing international support for El Salvador’s bold tech-driven strategy. She previously met with President Nayib Bukele in May 2024, along with economist Art Laffer, to discuss AI, digital assets, and the future of public education in the country.
Following the meeting, Wood shared her optimism in a post on X, predicting that El Salvador could potentially multiply its GDP tenfold over the next five years if it continues investing in innovation and education.
“The President could scale El Salvador’s GDP 10-fold during his next 5-year term,” she said, commending Bukele’s leadership as visionary and forward-thinking.
A Growing Hub for Tech, Crypto, and AI
El Salvador has been steadily carving out a place for itself as a leader in digital finance and emerging technologies. Its initiatives include:
- Integrating Bitcoin classes into public school curricula
- Utilizing geothermal energy to mine BTC
- Enacting pro-crypto and AI policies to encourage foreign investment
The country’s efforts have also drawn the attention of major figures in tech. In September 2024, President Bukele met with Elon Musk to explore potential collaboration in AI, digital assets, and other cutting-edge technologies. Musk later called Bukele “an amazing leader.”
With support from figures like Wood and Musk, El Salvador continues to build momentum in its mission to become Latin America’s tech and finance innovation hub.
