AI M&A in Latin America: How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Dealmaking

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AI M&A Latin America is no longer a forecast—it’s a fast-unfolding reality. As global deal volume in artificial intelligence surpasses $140 billion in 2025, Latin America is emerging as a strategic growth market. From biometric identity to AI-powered marketing and cybersecurity, companies are securing deals backed by increasingly sophisticated legal teams. These transactions—many of them completed within the last twelve months—signal a turning point in how innovation is driving cross-border dealmaking across the region.

🔍 Chronology of Major AI Transactions in Latin America

Machine learning M&A in the Latin American region is accelerating as startups across South America and Mexico turn to artificial intelligence to expand their platforms and attract capital. These technology transactions reflect not just investor enthusiasm but also a maturing legal and regulatory landscape that supports cross-border growth.

1. Nubank Acquires Hyperplane (Brazil/U.S.) – June 26, 2024

• Company & Use: Nubank acquired Hyperplane, a Silicon Valley startup with foundation-model tech, to embed “AI‑first” personalization and predictive analytics into banking services for more than 100 million customers.
• Counsel:
  • Hyperplane: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati — Partner Matt Squires.
  • Nubank: Stocche Forbes Advogados — Partner Guilherme Forbes.
• Focus: ML-driven personalization, cross-border IP, data transfers, and tech integration across Nubank’s ecosystem.

2. Unico Acquires Trully.AI (Brazil) – September 6, 2024

• Company & Use: Unico, Brazil’s digital identity leader, acquired Trully.AI to expand its AI-powered verification services across Latin America.
• International Counsel: Foley & Lardner LLP — Partner André Thiollier, James Howard.
• Brazil Counsel: Bronstein, Zilberberg, Chueiri & Potenza — Partner Eduardo Zilberberg.
• Focus: Integration of biometric tech, algorithm IP, LGPD alignment, and scaling regional identity use cases.

3. General Atlantic Invests in Insider (Brazil, Global) – November 4, 2024

• Company & Use: Insider, an AI-native omnichannel marketing platform, raised $500M to develop generative AI, bolster R&D, expand LATAM team, and pursue future M&A.
• International Counsel: Milbank LLP — Partner Sebastian Heim.
• Brazil Counsel: Machado Meyer Advogados — Partner Guilherme Bueno Malouf.
• Focus: Upscaling AI roadmap, reinforcing global growth, and strengthening data localization. capabilities.

4. Qubika Acquires Nitra Security (Uruguay/U.S.) – May 6, 2025

• Company & Use: Qubika—a nearshore AI & data consultancy—acquired Tennessee-based Nitra Security to integrate AI model vulnerability testing and cybersecurity into its AccelerateAI suite.
• Counsel: Undisclosed.
• Focus: Enhancing AI-native cybersecurity offerings, securing cloud and software lifecycle, and expanding into global markets.

📊 Legal Advisors Driving AI M&A in Latin America

• Foley & Lardner LLP – Partners André Thiollier, Louis Lehot
• Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati – Partner Matt Squires
• Milbank LLP – Partner Sebastian Heim
• Machado Meyer Advogados – Partner Guilherme Bueno Malouf
• Bronstein, Zilberberg, Chueiri & Potenza – Partners Sérgio Bronstein, Eduardo Zilberberg
• Stocche Forbes Advogados – Partner Guilherme Forbes, Flavio Meyer

Historic Advisors Driving AI M&A in Latin America:

• Foley & Lardner LLP (André Thiollier)
• Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (Matt Squires)
• Guderson Dettmer (Dan Green)
• Davis Polk (Manuel Garciadiaz)
• Clifford Chance (Mariana Baptista)

🌐 Trends Defining the Future of AI M&A Latin America

As artificial intelligence becomes core to strategic operations, Latin America’s dealmakers and legal practitioners are preparing for deeper complexity. Trends to watch include:

• Cross-border enforceability and arbitration as risk management tools
• Specialized due diligence for AI IP, data governance, and model bias
• Increased regulatory scrutiny on algorithmic transparency and AI safety
• Post-closing integration support focused on compliance and technical transfer

📌 Conclusion: Latin America’s AI M&A Era Has Arrived

AI M&A Latin America has shifted from experimentation to execution. Over the past twelve months, companies like Nubank, Unico, Insider, and Qubika have not only embraced artificial intelligence as part of their product strategy but also used M&A as a tool to scale it. These transactions reflect a broader shift in the region: AI is no longer an emerging technology—it’s the infrastructure for growth, personalization, cybersecurity, and cross-border expansion. From personalization to risk management, AI is now a growth engine — and M&A is its accelerator.

Each deal reflects a different facet of the region’s transformation. Nubank is using machine learning to personalize banking. Unico is consolidating identity authentication across borders. Insider is supercharging global marketing with generative AI. Qubika is embedding AI model risk analysis into cybersecurity infrastructure. Together, these deals show that Latin America is not merely catching up with AI—it is defining its own approach to deploying it at scale through acquisitions. M&A in Latin America is mostly thriving because of AI.

Moreover, what distinguishes AI M&A in Latin America today is also the quality and agility of the legal teams. International firms like Foley & Lardner, Milbank, Wilson Sonsini, and Davis Polk, as well as top regional players such as Machado Meyer, Mattos Filho, Pinheiro Neto, Stocche Forbes, and Bronstein Zilberberg, have helped manage legal complexity across borders.

For founders and investors, legal expertise is now a growth asset. For lawyers, AI M&A Latin America has become one of the most dynamic, high-stakes areas of practice. As the region matures, the line between legal precision and innovation strategy will blur further.

🌎 Resumo em Português 

Fusões e aquisições de IA na América Latina se destacam em 2025 com operações como Nubank–Hyperplane (jun 2024), Unico–Trully (set 2024), Insider (nov 2024) e Qubika–Nitra (mai 2025). Sócios como André Thiollier, Eduardo Zilberberg, Ricardo Vianna, Sebastian Heim e Guilherme Forbes lideram estratégias jurídicas que combinam propriedade intelectual, LGPD, due diligence técnica e arbitragem internacional. O artigo examina como o avanço da IA está moldando os acordos jurídicos e as estratégias de crescimento em fusões transfronteiriças.

🌎 Resumen en Español 

Las fusiones y adquisiciones de IA en América Latina están en auge con transacciones clave: Nubank–Hyperplane (jun-2024), Unico–Trully (sep-2024), Insider (nov-2024) y Qubika–Nitra (may-2025). Socios como André Thiollier, Eduardo Zilberberg, Ricardo Vianna, Sebastian Heim y Guilherme Forbes lideran estructuras legales que integran propiedad intelectual, cumplimiento normativo y arbitraje internacional. El artículo explora cómo la IA está redefiniendo las estrategias legales y de crecimiento en las operaciones de M&A en la región

🖋️ Written by the Latin American Desk

This article was produced by the Latin American Desk of Beyond the Law.news, where we track the important financial deals, and legal and regulatory forces shaping investment across Latin America.

⚖️ Law Firms Mentioned

• Foley & Lardner LLP
• Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
• Stocche Forbes Advogados
• Bronstein, Zilberberg, Chueiri & Potenza Advogados
• Milbank LLP
• Machado Meyer Advogados
• Mattos Filho
• Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
• Pinheiro Neto Advogados
• Clifford Chance LLP