CONPES 4144, approved on 14 February 2025, establishes Colombia’s National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy, aiming to foster research, development, adoption, and the ethical and sustainable use of AI to drive the country’s social and economic transformation. The policy aligns with the National Development Plan 2022-2026 and the National Digital Strategy 2023-2026, seeking to create the necessary conditions for AI development.

The policy aims to position Colombia as a competitive country in AI through six strategic objectives:

1. Ethics and Governance: Strengthen governance mechanisms and apply ethical principles to ensure responsible and trustworthy AI development and use.
2. Data and Infrastructure: Enhance technological infrastructure and access to high-quality data to support AI advancements.
3. Research, Development, and Innovation (R&D&I): Promote AI research and development to drive productivity and scientific progress in the country.
4. Capabilities and Digital Talent: Develop skills and specialised human capital in AI, fostering social adoption of the technology.
5. Risk Mitigation: Identify, prevent, and mitigate risks associated with AI use, including ethical concerns, biases, and cybersecurity threats.
6. AI Adoption and Use: Encourage the adoption of AI in public institutions, businesses, and local territories, with a focus on digital transformation and sustainability.

The government has outlined several actions to implement this policy to be executed by various state entities, including:

• The creation of regulations, ethical guidelines, and frameworks for the use of AI in line with the principles of transparency, security, and digital rights.
• Strengthening technological infrastructure, with investments in data centres, interoperability platforms, and access to supercomputing resources.
• Promoting public-private partnerships to drive AI innovation, including incentives for companies developing AI-based solutions in Colombia.
• Establishing training and certification programmes in AI, focusing on digital talent development from primary education to advanced technical and scientific specialisations.
• Implementing strategies for the ethical and responsible management of AI, incorporating audit mechanisms, accountability measures, and assessments of AI’s social and economic impact.
• Defining cybersecurity and privacy guidelines to safeguard sensitive data and build public trust in AI systems.

For the Telecommunications, Media, and Technology (TMT) sector, the implementation of this policy will present both opportunities and challenges in AI regulation. The creation of new regulatory frameworks and technical standards will require technology companies and service providers to adapt their business models and adopt best practices in data management and AI governance.

Moreover, the enhancement of technological infrastructure and increased data accessibility are expected to create a favourable environment for innovation in telecommunications, digital services, cybersecurity, media, and AI-driven entertainment.

The policy will be implemented over a six-year period (2024-2030), with an estimated investment of COP 479.273 billion, funded through the National Budget. Its impact will be monitored through biannual reports until 2030.