Colombian Goverment published the Ethical Guide for the Implementation, Development, and Use of Artificial Intelligence Systems in Public Entities, a document aimed at guiding the use of AI in the public sector under criteria of human rights, public interest, and democratic values, in line with Law 1581 of 2012, the Digital Government Policy, and international standards such as those of the OECD, the United Nations, and UNESCO.
The guide acknowledges that while AI can improve state efficiency and the quality of public services, it can also create risks such as algorithmic discrimination, loss of privacy, opacity in automated decisions, and social and environmental impacts. To address these risks, it establishes six fundamental principles as the pillars governing the use of AI in the Colombian State: human-centeredness, transparency and accountability, equity, data protection, technical security, and sustainability.
Based on these principles, the document recommends mechanisms such as impact assessments, human supervision, data governance, public-servant training, and citizen participation to ensure that artificial intelligence becomes a tool for public value, institutional trust, and sustainable development in Colombia.
