Chinese cash says that a South American tech boom is incoming
Investors from China are pumping money into Latin America at an astonishing rate.
By the numbers: Bloomberg reports that Chinese venture capitalists pushed $1 billion into South American projects during 2017. That’s up from just $30 million in 2015.
Signs of success: Mexico’s most successful news app, Noticias Aguila, was entirely designed and developed by a team based in Shenzhen, China.
Why it matters: In the past, China borrowed ideas from Europe and the US. Now it’s pushing its own tech on up-and-coming nations faster than the West can.
But: China’s entrepreneurs must tread carefully. Bloomberg notes that, as with Chinese car imports and investment in infrastructure, locals often push back against external investment.
Deep Dive
Policy
Is there anything more fascinating than a hidden world?
Some hidden worlds--whether in space, deep in the ocean, or in the form of waves or microbes--remain stubbornly unseen. Here's how technology is being used to reveal them.
What Luddites can teach us about resisting an automated future
Opposing technology isn’t antithetical to progress.
Africa’s push to regulate AI starts now
AI is expanding across the continent and new policies are taking shape. But poor digital infrastructure and regulatory bottlenecks could slow adoption.
Yes, remote learning can work for preschoolers
The largest-ever humanitarian intervention in early childhood education shows that remote learning can produce results comparable to a year of in-person teaching.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.