AI can boost Brazil – IMPA is already part of the transformation

“AI has become a reality in the corporate world. There are three new professions already registered and professionals being hired.” This was said by journalist Pedro Doria, in an article published on Tuesday (11) in the newspaper ‘O Globo’. In the text “AI can bring Brazil into line with the rich if the country invests in education”Doria analyzes the impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market and argues that the country has a historic opportunity to reduce inequalities through education and technological innovation.

The journalist is based on the 2025 edition of Stanford University’s Annual Report on AI, which shows that artificial intelligence is already incorporated into the routine of 78% of companies worldwide, compared to 55% the previous year. The study highlights the emergence of new professions – such as prompt engineers, model auditors and data “ethicists” – and points to significant productivity gains in areas that adopt AI-based solutions.

According to the survey, the use of virtual assistants and intelligent algorithms has boosted the pace of scientific discoveries, resulting in 44.1% more published research, 39.4% more patents and 17.2% more technological prototypes.

The report also projects direct impacts on the Brazilian economy. Sectors such as software could increase productivity by up to 40% for early-career professionals. Another study, by the Wilson Center, reinforces this trend: a fiscally responsible government combined with the widespread adoption of AI could increase Brazil’s GDP by up to five percentage points over the next decade.

“Artificial intelligence can reduce the gap between the least and most qualified workers. And this is the great Brazilian dilemma,” says Doria.

This concern is shared by mathematician Marcelo Viana, director-general of IMPA, for whom mastery of mathematics and science is fundamental to the country’s technological development. The study “Contribution of Mathematics to the Brazilian Economy” – carried out by Itaú Social, with the support of IMPA – reveals that only 7.4% of Brazilian workers work in mathematics-based professions, a figure that is still far from the average for European countries.

Faced with this scenario, IMPA has acted decisively to collaborate with Brazil in the new digital economy – uniting science, education and cutting-edge technology.

IMPA Tech: training professionals for the future

IMPA Tech, the institute’s undergraduate program, represents a milestone in this transformation. The higher education course was born out of the need to train highly qualified professionals for the technology and innovation market, capable of working in areas such as data science, artificial intelligence, mathematical modeling and the development of digital solutions.

With a methodology that combines scientific rigor, practical application and teamwork, IMPA Tech prepares its students for real challenges in the productive sector. The courses integrate programming, statistics, economics and applied mathematics, stimulating logical reasoning and the ability to solve complex problems – skills that are increasingly valued in the global market.

Pi Center: science and innovation connected to the market

The Pi Center (IMPA Projects and Innovation Center) is another IMPA initiative that brings together AI solutions and the job market. The space acts as a bridge between academic research and the productive sector, bringing together researchers, companies and public authorities in search of impactful solutions. Deliverables include Brazilian Women Projectin partnership with Dasa; the Biomes ProjectProject, developed with Imazon; and the Pi Center Project – Petrobras.