A Cuban in Miami found an unexpected ally in artificial intelligence to solve one of the most common dilemmas of the diaspora: how to distribute essentials sent to the island fairly.
In a reel posted on Instagram, the young Cuban aesthetician Marlan Vázquez demonstrates how she uses ChatGPT to mathematically plan each package she sends to Cuba.
The method is as simple as it is ingenious: the young woman tells the tool how many houses she has in Cuba, how many people live in each one, and what the genders of the residents are, and the chatbot returns a detailed list with exact counts for each household.
"I tell Chat GPT how many people I have in Cuba, how many houses there are, and how many people live in each house, as well as the genders of those living in those houses. And how many people per house, and it makes a list of things I need to buy," he explains in the video.
The result is a meticulously calculated distribution: "For example, a household of three people requires six soaps. A household of two people needs four soaps, resulting in a total of 14 bars of soap to buy, and I divide it this way to make purchases for my family."
But the organization doesn't stop there. To avoid conflicts at the time of distribution, Marlan labels each product with the recipient's name before packing. "Now, according to the list, I’m going to write the name on each product so that when the package arrives in Cuba, nobody can say anything because I know my people. At that time, things start getting distributed however they please," he warns with humor.
The Cuban also reveals that the change in strategy has a clear economic logic. Previously, she only sent money, but she discovered that buying directly in the U.S. is more profitable: "Honestly, I save more by purchasing from here and sending it over there than just sending money." Nevertheless, she clarifies that she will not abandon cash remittances: "I will still continue sending money because money is always needed."
The video by @marlan.vazquez, recorded with a michelada in hand — "because this takes time," he acknowledges — clearly encapsulates the reality of thousands of Cuban families divided by the ocean and united by necessity.
Sutestimonio adds to a widely spread trend among Cubans abroad who share their purchases on social media to send to the island, thereby helping their family members with essential items.
The way in which Cubans in Miami send packages to the island has changed significantly in recent years: while food used to be the main priority, today hygiene products, medicines, and equipment to alleviate blackouts are also prioritized.
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