El Salvador Launches Public AI Education Program, Cathie Wood to Deliver Inaugural Lecture
KEY FACTS: El Salvador is launching a pioneering university-level AI education program, CUBO_ai, set to begin in April 2025 at the City Welfare and Opportunity Center in San Salvador, with renowned investor Cathie Wood of ARK Invest delivering the inaugural lecture. Spearheaded by President Nayib Bukele, the initiative aims to equip students and professionals with advanced AI skills, building on the country’s innovative reputation following its 2021 adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender, with a current treasury of over 6,105 BTC valued at $527 million. The program, supported by the Bitcoin Office.
Cathie Wood, left, meets with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, center, and economist Art Laffer, right, in May 2024. Source: El Salvador’s Bitcoin Office
El Salvador Launches Public AI Education Program, Cathie Wood to Deliver Inaugural Lecture
El Salvador is set to launch an ambitious artificial intelligence (AI) education initiative, with renowned investor and ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood delivering the keynote lecture to kick off the program. Scheduled to commence in one month, this university-level AI education effort, dubbed CUBO_ai, aims to equip Salvadoran students and professionals with cutting-edge skills in a field poised to shape the future of technology and global economies. The announcement has sparked excitement both domestically and internationally as El Salvador continues its bold push to position itself as a forward-thinking hub for innovation.
Buckle up, because in just one month, El Salvador’s cutting-edge university-level AI program, CUBO_ai, kicks off with a bang — and none other than the iconic AI investing legend @CathieDWood will light up the stage with the very first lecture!
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The initiative, officially named the Urban Centers for Welfare and Opportunities (CUBO) AI program, will be launched by El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, a leader known for his unconventional approaches to governance and economic development. The program will take place at the City Welfare and Opportunity Center (CUBO) in San Salvador, a facility designed to foster education, opportunity, and community growth. With Cathie Wood at the helm of its inaugural event, the CUBO_ai program promises to blend global expertise with local ambition, offering university students and working professionals access to advanced courses in artificial intelligence.
Cathie Wood, a prominent figure in the investment world and a vocal advocate for disruptive technologies, expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration. Wood said in a statement:
“ARK Educate is honored to contribute to El Salvador’s progressive approach to education...”
Her involvement underscores the program’s emphasis on preparing the next generation for a tech-driven future, aligning with her long-standing investment philosophy centered on innovation in fields like AI, blockchain, and biotechnology. Wood’s ARK Invest has gained international recognition for its forward-looking exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which focus on companies at the forefront of technological transformation.
El Salvador’s Bitcoin Office, an entity established to oversee the country’s pioneering adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, hailed the initiative as a “seismic happening” for the nation’s youth. The office declared in an official statement on the X platform:
“This isn’t just any program; it’s a seismic happening for the nation’s brightest young minds to learn to absolutely own and command the emerging AI vibes as they embrace exponentials and this new tech-driven future.”
The CUBO_ai program arrives at a pivotal moment for El Salvador, a country that has increasingly sought to redefine itself on the global stage. Under President Bukele’s leadership, the nation has made headlines for its aggressive embrace of Bitcoin, including a national strategy to acquire the cryptocurrency daily and amass a treasury now exceeding 6,105 BTC—valued at over $527 million as of March 2025. While this crypto experiment has drawn both praise and criticism, it has undeniably elevated El Salvador’s profile as a testing ground for bold economic policies. The introduction of an AI-focused education program aims at cultivating a workforce capable of competing in the digital age and attracting international investment in emerging technologies.
The collaboration between El Salvador and Cathie Wood builds on prior engagements between Bukele’s administration and global tech leaders. In September 2024, Bukele met with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to discuss artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, and potential partnerships. That meeting, which took place amid El Salvador’s ongoing efforts to integrate Bitcoin into its economy, hinted at future collaborations with influential figures in the tech world. Musk’s involvement fueled speculation about deeper ties between his ventures and the Salvadoran government, and Wood’s participation in CUBO_ai now adds another layer to this narrative of international cooperation.
Details of the CUBO_ai curriculum remain under wraps, but officials have indicated that it will offer a comprehensive range of courses tailored to both beginners and advanced learners. Topics are expected to include machine learning, data analysis, neural networks, and the ethical implications of AI—subjects that mirror the rapid advancements shaping industries worldwide. By targeting university students and professionals, the program aims to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical application, preparing participants for careers in a field projected to see exponential growth in the coming decades.
For El Salvador, the stakes are high. The nation faces persistent economic challenges, including reliance on remittances, high levels of poverty, and a historical lack of investment in advanced education. The CUBO_ai program could catalyze change, fostering a new generation of tech-savvy professionals capable of driving economic diversification. Observers see parallels with Bukele’s Bitcoin strategy: a willingness to take risks on uncharted territory in pursuit of long-term gains. If successful, the initiative could position El Salvador as a regional leader in AI education and innovation, much as its Bitcoin adoption has made it a focal point in the cryptocurrency debate.
Cathie Wood’s participation carries symbolic weight as well. Known for her bullish predictions, Wood brings a reputation for visionary thinking to the CUBO_ai launch. Her lecture is expected to set the tone for the program, offering insights into the transformative potential of AI and its intersections with other disruptive technologies like blockchain. For Salvadoran students, the chance to hear from a figure of Wood’s stature could prove inspirational, reinforcing the message that their country is serious about staking a claim in the global tech ecosystem.
The timing of the announcement is in line with global trends. Artificial intelligence has emerged as a cornerstone of economic and societal transformation, with nations racing to develop expertise in the field. El Salvador’s entry into this race, though modest in scale compared to tech giants like the United States or China, reflects a strategic bet on human capital as a driver of future prosperity.
As the CUBO_ai program prepares to launch, questions linger about its implementation and long-term impact. Will it attract sufficient funding and resources to sustain its ambitions? Can it overcome the structural challenges of El Salvador’s education system? And how will it complement the country’s cryptocurrency focus, which has consumed much of Bukele’s attention in recent years?
For now, the involvement of Cathie Wood and the backing of the Salvadoran government offer a promising start. Let's watch!
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