With their unwavering determination and resilience, Latinos have been shattering tech barriers for decades. Today, these leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs continue to break barriers and propel technology forward in remarkable ways. - BY Belinda Jones

Extensive research underscores the pivotal role of diversity in driving innovation and ensuring technological advancements benefit a broader spectrum of society. What may surprise some is that Latinos and Latinas have been at the forefront of technological advancements for decades, breaking barriers through leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship. From Mexican American physicist Albert Vinicio Baez, a pioneer in x-ray optics, to Luis von Ahn, creator of CAPTCHA, Latinos and Latinas have made tech more diverse, innovative, and welcoming for people of all ethnicities, genders, and races.

X-Rays, Premature Babies, and Hearts

It is a matter of great pride to acknowledge the Latino and Latina pioneers in technology, many of which are only recognized within the tech industry. Yet, their technological contributions have significantly enhanced our quality of life, a testament to their brilliance and dedication.

Albert Vinicio Báez was born in Mexico, though his family moved to New York when he was two years old. First a mathematics professor, he switched to physics for his PhD. His thesis was Principles of X-Ray Options and the Development of a Single Stage X-Ray Microscope. From that point forward, Baez pursued technological advances in X-ray optics, pioneering the focusing geometry for X-rays and the fabrication of high-resolution microscopy and telescope imaging with soft X-rays and extreme UV radiation. The Baez X-ray reflection microscope has been used to study everything from galaxies to cells. As a teacher for many years, he reinforced the importance of curiosity, creativity, and compassion.

Peruvian Claudio Castillón Lévano developed the portable Neonatal Artificial Bubble for the intensive care of premature babies. Called the Incuven, it regulates temperature and reduces contamination risk. The U.S. issued a patent in 2004. He also invented the Aeolian-Coplar, which converts wind energy into electricity, helping rural areas access electricity. Julio Cesar Palmaz is an Argentinian-born medical doctor. In 1983, he joined the University of Texas Health Sciences Department of Radiology as chief of angiography and special procedures of vascular radiology. At the university and as a scientific advisor at Vactronix Scientific, he invented the balloon-expandable vascular stent, which the FDA approved in 1990. Today, approximately one million stents are implanted globally.

Shaping the Technology Industry

Today, Latinos and Latinas remain formidable forces for creativity and innovation in the technology industry, shaping the future for all. As entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and inventors, they influence the future through their inventions and serve as role models for the younger generation. One of the common characteristics of the new generations of entrepreneurs goes beyond their technology talent. They leverage their success to help others succeed and lead quality lives. The following are just a few tech innovators also making a social impact. Lili Gangas, an immigrant from Bolivia, is the Chief Technology Community Officer at the Kapor Center for Social Impact. The foundation strives to make the tech industry more diverse and inclusive. Gangas co-leads the Kapor Center’s Equitable Tech Policy Initiative with special interests in closing the digital divide, scaling new tech workforce models, advocating for responsible emerging technology, and supporting civic organizations. She also advises tech-focused nonprofits, like AI-4-All.org, and community investing organizations like The Unity Council. She became a member of the Forbes Technology Council in October 2023.

Luis von Ahn is a Guatemalan entrepreneur and software developer. A past professor at Carnegie Mellon University, he was a member of the team that created CAPTCHA, an online test that helps companies thwart bots. He later developed reCAPTCHA. Von Ahn holds 13 U.S. patents. In 2011, he decided to focus on advancing learning opportunities for people of all social classes by co-founding Duolingo, now the world’s largest online language-learning platform. His company has educated millions of people, and 93% have not paid anything.

A scientist and translational physicist, Columbian-born Maria Artunduaga turned her love for her abuela, Sylvia, who died of COPD, into an innovative home lung monitoring technology. She founded the company Samay, which means “to breathe deeply” in Quechua. Samay’s wireless Sylvee Device combines lung physiology, IoT sensors, signal processing, and AI/ML to monitor pulmonary volumes, trapped air, breathing sounds, and respiratory rates. Artunduaga is involved in initiatives that support underrepresented minorities in STEM and entrepreneurship. Dr. Graciela Chichilnisky is a world-renowned economist and inventor. Originally from Argentina, she created and designed the UN carbon market, leading to the EU Emission Trading System. Chichilnisky also wrote the wording for the carbon market incorporated into the Kyoto Protocol at the Convention of the Parties in Kyoto. She was a lead US author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. Also an entrepreneur, Chichilnisky co-founded Global Thermostat, a company in which she co-invented a carbon-capturing technology. She also founded and sold two successful companies, FITEL, a financial telecommunications company and Cross Border Exchange. Chichilnisky is currently the CEO of Anthracene Advisors.

Powerful Economic Engine

The 2023 LDC U.S. Latinos in Technology Report – AI Editon is a report by the Latino Donor Collaborative (LDC) that explores the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the U.S. Latino community. The report also highlights the growing representation of Latinos in the U.S. population and the AI economy's unprecedented growth, a potentially transforming combination leading to opportunities.

One of the points the report makes is that Latinos comprise one out of five Americans today, and “their equitable representation in the AI-driven future is not only necessary but strategically imperative for the nation’s technological competitiveness.” It is also imperative to develop AI that is unbiased, fair, and representative. As the report authors write, “Moreover, if the United States intends to maintain its position as the leading international economic power, it must harness the economic potential of the Latino cohort, a powerful economic engine. While both North America and China have much to gain from the AI-driven transformation, the United States possesses the unique advantage of having a vibrant and diverse Latino community. This demographic not only represents the fastest-growing workforce in the country but also the world’s third-fastest-growing economy.”