Name in original language
Guía de Uso de Herramientas de Inteligencia Artificial “IA” en la Superintendencia de Competencia Económica
Initiative overview
The initiative by Ecuador’s Superintendency of Economic Competition (SCE) addresses the challenge of managing massive data volumes in modern markets, where manual analysis is no longer sufficient to detect complex anti-competitive behaviors like price-fixing or market manipulation. By adopting Generative Artificial Intelligence, the SCE aims to turn a logistical burden into an opportunity for modernization. The guide is designed to move staff away from repetitive administrative tasks and toward high-value strategic analysis, ensuring the institution can keep pace with digital market trends.
The main objectives are to enhance institutional efficiency, reduce human error, and accelerate the investigation of unfair market practices. The SCE intends for AI to function as a "work co-pilot" that supports—but does not replace—the professional judgment of its staff. A critical priority within these objectives is the strict protection of privacy; the initiative seeks to integrate these tools while ensuring that personal data and confidential investigation files remain secure and compliant with national law.
The framework operates under a model of mandatory human oversight, meaning no administrative decision or sanction is ever determined solely by an algorithm. Key internal participants include the AI Committee, which authorizes specific tools and manages risks, and the Data Protection Delegate, who ensures privacy standards are met. In practice, employees are required to "anonymize" data—removing names or identifying details—before using any AI tool to prevent information leaks. Every AI-generated output must be critically verified by a human expert before it is used in an official capacity.
