Cathie Wood, the founder of Ark Invest, is set to deliver the opening lecture for El Salvador’s new Urban Centers for Welfare and Opportunities (CUBO) AI initiative, a public education project launched by the El Salvadoran government.
The initiative aims to offer university-level AI courses for students and professionals, building upon the success of the country’s previous CUBO Bitcoin (BTC) and Lightning Network developer program, as noted by El Salvador’s Bitcoin Office.
This program will utilize experts from the industry to deliver AI education to the community. In a March 23 social media post, the Bitcoin Office remarked:
“As El Salvador accelerates its evolution into the leading tech and financial hub of the region, CUBO AI will equip students and professionals with the essential skills to excel in the AI landscape.”
The Central American country continues to draw in crypto enterprises and foreign investments as it establishes itself as a pivotal tech and digital finance center.
Cathie Wood is seen on the left, with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele in the center, and economist Art Laffer on the right, during their meeting in May 2024. Source: El Salvador’s Bitcoin Office
Related: El Salvador has acquired over 13 BTC since March 1, despite its deal with the IMF
The regional tech hub transformation in El Salvador through education and investment
The country has been actively working to solidify its status as a regional innovation hub, incorporating Bitcoin education into public schools, utilizing geothermal energy for BTC mining, and enacting pro-crypto and AI legislation.
Cathie Wood held a meeting with President Nayib Bukele in May 2024 where they explored the future of digital assets and AI policy in the nation, including bespoke educational initiatives that could be designed by Ark Invest.
Following their discussions, Wood expressed her belief that El Salvador could potentially increase its gross domestic product (GDP) tenfold within the next five years if it maintains its focus on technological advancement.
“The President could scale El Salvador’s GDP 10-fold during his next 5-year term,” Wood remarked in a May 2024 social media update, commending Bukele for his visionary approach.
In another engagement, Bukele also held a discussion with Elon Musk in September 2024 regarding artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies, including cryptocurrency.
Musk praised Bukele as “an amazing leader,” and the two continue to foster a relationship that might open doors for collaboration between the entrepreneur and the El Salvadoran government.
Magazine: El Salvador’s national Bitcoin chief has been promoting Bitcoin in Argentina