Who Comes to Mind When You Hear Artificial Intelligence?
When you hear the term “Artificial Intelligence,” you likely think of ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, or the tools you’ve used or seen on social media. But what about the unseen players? Those who operate behind the scenes, making it all possible.
The Infrastructure Behind AI
To understand this complex universe, we need to know who operates it. For AI to function, a highly intricate infrastructure is required, including servers, specialized chips, data analysis platforms, development tools, and most importantly, specialists who manage this ecosystem quietly.
Oracle: An Unseen but Crucial Player
Recently, I had the chance to speak with one of these unseen players: Oracle. You might not recognize the name, but chances are you’ve used their AI technology today without realizing it.
- When you pay at the supermarket, and the system detects an issue with your card or adjusts prices based on offers.
- In a hospital, when your medical record suggests a diagnosis based on your symptoms and clinical history.
- At your bank, when an AI analyzes your history and approves (or denies) credit in seconds.
- Or when filing your taxes, and the system detects an anomaly without you noticing the error.
All these seemingly mundane tasks, which we’ve come to expect for years, are operated by Artificial Intelligence. And behind the scenes, companies like Oracle make it possible.
“The joke is that you don’t realize it. We’re not going for a record of tools; we want AI to be useful in your life,” Fernando Irure, Oracle’s growth director and spokesperson for educational programs, told me.
Oracle’s Growing Role in AI
Contrary to being an anonymous or small player, Oracle’s role in AI is becoming increasingly significant, even in Mexico.
For instance, they’re building one of the world’s largest AI supercomputers in the cloud. For tech enthusiasts, you can learn more about it here. Essentially, think of it as a highway. This supercomputer will be a network of thousands of GPUs (a specialized type of chip) capable of processing information at extremely high speeds. Any company, government, or startup can “rent a lane” on this highway to train their AI without investing millions in their own infrastructure. Oracle isn’t making AI smarter; it’s making it more accessible.
Moreover, Oracle is part of a joint venture with OpenAI (the creators of ChatGPT) and SoftBank to build more AI infrastructure in the United States. Donald Trump has claimed this project will create over 100,000 jobs in the country. (Interesting fact: 70% of AI is in the US)
AI Adoption and Impact in Mexico
According to the Latin American AI Index 2024, Mexico ranks sixth in AI adoption, with strengths in research and development. Statista predicts that AI could contribute an additional 6.2% to Mexico’s national GDP by 2030. Yes, Oracle is also present in Mexico.
“A lot of what Oracle does is done here,” Irure explained.
Currently, this US-based company has two development centers outside the US: in India and Mexico. The Mexican center, located in Jalisco, has over 3,200 collaborators. From there, they develop solutions for future problems (more than 40 patents have been registered so far), such as a system that examines vast agricultural areas in minutes, optimizing productivity and reducing waste.
Oracle’s Commitment to Education
Like many AI-focused companies, Oracle also strongly supports education. For the past five years, they’ve been driving the Oracle Next Education (ONE) program, a fully virtual and free platform that has trained nearly 20,000 Mexican students.
There’s also the Oracle Academy, a philanthropic program offering free resources to teachers worldwide. In Mexico, it has supported 6,300 public educational institutions, over 29,000 teachers, and nearly 500,000 students.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the key players in AI besides ChatGPT? Companies like Oracle, Nvidia, IBM, Huawei, and Alibaba are crucial players in the AI landscape.
- How does Oracle contribute to making AI more accessible? By providing a large-scale AI supercomputer in the cloud, allowing companies to train their AI without heavy infrastructure investments.
- What is Oracle’s role in AI education? Through programs like Oracle Next Education (ONE) and Oracle Academy, they offer free resources and training to students and teachers globally.
- How significant is AI adoption in Mexico? According to the Latin American AI Index 2024, Mexico ranks sixth in AI adoption and could contribute an additional 6.2% to its GDP by 2030.
