AI Adoption Grows Among Mexican Companies
Artificial intelligence adoption is accelerating among Mexican companies, but most organizations remain in the early stages of implementation, according to the 2026 study Unlocking the Potential of AI in Mexico, prepared by Strand Partners for Amazon Web Services (AWS).
The study found that 48% of companies in Mexico now use AI, up from 38% a year earlier. This represents a 26% year-over-year increase and means that more than 2.5 million companies are already using some form of artificial intelligence.
However, 63% of AI-using companies remain at a basic stage, primarily applying the technology to improve efficiency, optimize processes, or operate chatbots. Only 13% have reached an advanced level, using customized systems, multiple AI models, or autonomous and agentic technologies.
Startups are leading in advanced adoption. While 52% of startups use AI, 32% of those users have reached an advanced stage, compared with 11% of small and medium-sized businesses and 9% of large companies.
Investment in AI is also increasing. Some 63% of companies increased their AI spending during the past year, while 44% have established dedicated budgets for the technology. Among companies with specific AI budgets, the technology currently represents 12% of total IT spending, a figure expected to rise to 21% over the next three years.
Despite the benefits, companies face significant challenges in measuring returns. While 88% of AI adopters report productivity improvements and 86% say they have achieved positive returns, 46% lack a reliable method to measure the return on investment from their AI initiatives.
Talent remains another major obstacle. Nearly half of companies identify a shortage of qualified workers as a barrier to expanding AI adoption, while 42% report difficulties hiring employees with the necessary digital skills.
The growing use of AI is also creating demand for digital infrastructure. Cloud adoption among surveyed companies increased from 63% to 71% in one year, while 26% consider investment in AI infrastructure located in Mexico—including data centers and computing capacity—a national priority.
The trend could have significant implications for Mexico’s real estate and industrial sectors, particularly data centers. The Mexican Association of Data Centers estimates that the country could attract approximately US$82.5 billion in data center infrastructure investment in the coming years. (inmobiliare.com)
