Brazil’s AI-powered social security app is wrongly rejecting claims

• Source URL: https://restofworld.org/2025/brazil-ai-social-security-app-rejected/


• Site: Rest of World


• Published: 2025-04-24T10:00:00+00:00


• Description: Brazil is using AI to process welfare claims, but the system struggles with complex cases—leaving rural workers facing delays, denials, and little recourse.


• Canonical: https://restofworld.org/2025/brazil-ai-social-security-app-rejected/

Extracted Snippet

Skip to content Rest of World Reporting Global Tech Stories Latin America Innovation Brazil’s AI-powered social security app is wrongly rejecting claims About Latest Newsletters Explore by Beats Tech Giants China Outside China EV Revolution Innovation Regions Africa Asia China Eastern Europe Latin America South Asia Middle East & North Africa Sections Access & Connectivity Creators & Communities E-commerce Labor Money Politics The Platform Economy Learn more About us Team news Work with us Support us Platforms Listen Follow us Dark Mode Innovation Brazil’s AI-powered social security app is wrongly rejecting claims An algorithmic tool meant to reduce bureaucracy is misfiring on complex cases, and vulnerable Brazilians are paying the price. David Senior for Rest of World David Senior for Rest of World By Gabriel Daros 24 April 2025 • São Paulo, Brazil Brazil introduced AI tools to review welfare benefits in 2018. The government aims to have the algorithm review 55% of social security petitions by the end of 2025. The tool has cut bureaucracy in some cases, but led to automatic denials for many. When Josélia de Brito, a former sugarcane worker from a remote town in northeast Brazil, filed for her retirement benefits through the mandated government app, she expected her claim would be processed quickly. Instead, her request was instantly turned down because the system identified her as a man. It was especially frustrating for de Brito, who had been requesting sick pay for years v