Chapter 17
IA, COLOMBIA DIAGNOSIS: IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS
THE QUALITY OF THE POLITICAL CLASS – DIAGNOSIS AND PROPOSALS
Growing political diversity: Colombia has made progress in participation, with the presence of women, ethnic minorities, and young people in Congress. This enriches debate and democratizes representation.
Widespread discredit: Many citizens perceive politicians as corrupt, clientelist, or out of touch with reality. Opinion voting has increased, but traditional politics still dominates in large areas.
Structural corruption: Several reports and scandals reveal practices such as vote buying, rigged contracts, political misuse of public office, and misappropriation of resources. This undermines trust and hinders social development.
Disconnection with citizens: A large part of the political class acts more as a manager of private interests than as a builder of the common good. Public debate often becomes polarized and superficial due to a lack of ethical and technical training; many politicians rise to power without solid knowledge of public administration, economics, law, or social management, which affects the quality of their decisions.
Proposals for improvement: civic education from school: training future voters with civic values, critical thinking, and political culture; an educated population demands more and better.
Reform political parties: promote internal democratic structures, transparent funding, and meritocratic candidate selection. Political renewal based on merit: promote prepared leaders with real experience in public or social affairs; value ethics as much as ability. Use of technology and digital participation: facilitate citizen oversight and transparency using digital tools to monitor laws, budgets, voting, and fulfill promises. Exemplary sanctions for corrupt officials : reforms that ensure those who steal public resources do not return to power and are held accountable effectively and swiftly. Support authentic local leadership: foster community leaders born from honest work, community service, and a close relationship with the local community.
In short, Colombia needs a more ethical, educated, and committed political class serving the common good. Changing this reality requires both the will of those in power and the pressure and demands of a more active, educated, and vigilant citizenry.
Colombia has made significant progress in the development and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), positioning itself as an emerging leader in Latin America. An updated assessment of the state of AI in the country: How is Artificial Intelligence in Colombia doing, 2025 assessment: Regional positioning, according to the Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index 2024, Colombia ranks fifth out of 19 countries in the region, standing out for its progress in public policy, talent development, and data governance. X (formerly Twitter)+1Latam Index+1, National AI Policy.
In February 2025, the Colombian government approved the National Artificial Intelligence Policy through CONPES document 4144, which seeks to promote the ethical development and adoption of AI, with an inclusive approach focused on reducing social gaps. The policy's six strategic axes are: MinTIC + 5 Cuatrecasas + 5 Ponsip +
Digital talent and capabilities development, risk mitigation, use and adoption of AI
MinScience+12MinTIC+12Ponsip+
In addition, a budget of approximately 480 billion pesos (around 120 million dollars) has been allocated until 2030 to promote this strategy.
Healthcare Applications: AI is being used to improve healthcare in Colombia. For example, pediatric infectious disease specialist Iván Felipe Gutiérrez has developed a system that analyzes antibiotic prescriptions in real time, optimizing their use and combating bacterial resistance.
Applications in education: In the field of education, AI is being implemented to personalize learning and improve the quality of education. Programs are being developed that use AI to adapt educational content to each student's pace and learning style, especially in rural areas with limited access to traditional educational resources.
AI and the Environment: Colombian researchers are applying AI to biodiversity conservation. AI-based computational methods are being used to automatically identify species from images and recordings, model species distribution, and conduct virtual biological prospecting, thus contributing to the sustainable use of natural resources. arXiv
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite progress, Colombia faces challenges such as the need to improve technological infrastructure, ensure data protection and human rights, and promote the adoption of AI in key sectors. However, the implementation of the National AI Policy and planned investments offer an opportunity to overcome these obstacles and consolidate Colombia as a leader in AI in the region. Transparency is a fundamental principle of public ethics, good governance, and citizen trust. It refers to the willingness of individuals, organizations, or governments to act in a clear, open, and accessible manner, allowing their actions, decisions, and results to be known, understood, and evaluated by others.
General concept of transparency: "Transparency is the quality of being clear, visible, and understandable in resource management, decision-making, and information, so that any interested party can access relevant data and verify that the person is acting honestly and responsibly."
In different contexts : Government and politics: involves accountability, access to public information, citizen participation and the fight against corruption.
Companies: acting in accordance with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) standards, which require truthful reporting to customers, investors, employees, and stakeholders about corporate processes, products, and decisions.
Education and science: requires that data, methods, and results be open to review to ensure quality and prevent fraud. Human relations: translates into sincerity, consistency, and respect in interpersonal communication. Practical examples: publishing government contracts and tenders on public portals; allowing free access to the budgets of a mayor's office or ministry; clearly informing clients about costs, benefits, and risks; and clarifying conflicts of interest before participating in public decisions.
Benefits: Strengthens trust between institutions and citizens; prevents corruption and abuse of power; improves efficiency and quality in public and private management; and fosters participation and social oversight.
Colombia's culture is one of the richest, most diverse, and vibrant in Latin America, the result of a historical blend of indigenous peoples, African heritage, and Spanish legacy, as well as modern and global influences.
Comprehensive cultural diagnosis , which can be used to reflect or take action:
CULTURE IN COLOMBIA, GENERAL DIAGNOSIS : Ethnic and regional diversity: Colombia has more than 80 indigenous groups, Afro-Colombian communities, Raizal people, and Roma (Gypsies). Each region has very distinct identities: the Caribbean is festive and musical; the Andean region is traditional; the Pacific is rhythmic and spiritual; the Amazon is ancestral and ecological; the Llanos are poetic and proud.
Recognized cultural expressions: literature: Gabriel García Márquez, Nobel Prize winner and father of magical realism.
Music: cumbia, vallenato, bambuco, salsa, and reggaeton, with artists such as Shakira, Carlos Vives, J Balvin, and Totó la Momposina. Handicrafts: vueltiao hats, Wayuu backpacks, and Ráquira pottery.
Gastronomy: arepa, bandeja paisa, sancocho, ajiaco, empanadas, tamales, among others.
Culture of resilience and joy: Despite historical violence and conflict, Colombians are optimistic, hospitable, creative, and hardworking. Celebrations, humor, and music are forms of cultural and emotional resilience.
Education and civic culture : Access to culture has improved, but marked inequalities remain between urban and rural areas. Artistic training and critical thinking are fields that require greater investment and state support. Global influences and challenges: Colombian youth are strongly connected to international trends, from K-pop to digital technology. The challenge is to preserve what is unique without closing off from the world, and to achieve a modern cultural identity without losing one's roots.
Challenges and opportunities: inequality in access to culture; promoting libraries, museums, and events; displacing traditional knowledge; fostering ancestral culture and oral tradition; commodifying art; supporting authentic and communal values; preventing identity loss in globalization; and revaluing local values in the digital world.
Promote arts and heritage education from schools; support artists, cultural managers, and tradition bearers. Use artificial intelligence to democratize access to cultural content; promote culture as a tool for peace, inclusion, and social innovation.
SPORTS: Colombia is experiencing a contrasting period in sports in 2025. On the one hand, it is celebrating outstanding achievements by international athletes and growing interest in new disciplines; on the other, it is facing significant challenges due to budget cuts that threaten the development and sustainability of sports in the country.
Notable sporting achievements include Luis Díaz, the Colombian striker who was a key player in Liverpool's recent Premier League triumph, scoring in the decisive match against Tottenham. Diego Pescador, a 19-year-old cyclist, signed by the Movistar team after outstanding performances in youth competitions, establishing himself as a promising figure in Colombian cycling.
Budget Cuts: Colombian sports face a significant financial crisis: Portafolio+5Revista poder+ 5www.agenciapi.co +5. The Ministry of Sports' budget for 2025 was reduced by approximately 70%, going from $1.3 trillion in 2024 to $464 billion. El País+9Portafolio+9El País+9 This reduction affects 95% of recreation, physical activity, and sports programs, putting national and international events, as well as the training of new talent, at risk. infobae+ 3www.agenciapi.co +3W Radio+3 The loss of the 2027 Pan American Games venue for Barranquilla and the cancellation of the Tour Colombia are direct consequences of these cuts. El País+1El País+1
Sports Trends: Despite Challenges, Sports Practice in Colombia Shows Dynamism: infobae+1 Poder+1 Magazine. Paddle tennis has experienced significant growth, with an 870% increase in court reservations and more than 160,000 registered reservations, surpassing soccer and tennis in popularity. www.eluniversal.com.co
Final Reflection: Colombia is at a sporting crossroads: while its athletes are shining internationally and the population is showing growing enthusiasm for new disciplines, budget cuts threaten to halt this momentum. It is crucial to implement public policies that guarantee the sustainability of sport, promote inclusion, and ensure the comprehensive development of athletes and the community at large.
COLOMBIAN BUSINESS CLASS : demonstrates a remarkable capacity for adaptation and resilience in the face of a challenging economic environment in 2025. Despite global uncertainties and internal pressures, the business sector has maintained sustained growth, driving the country's economic recovery.
Strengths of the Colombian business sector: business growth and regional dynamism, in the first quarter of 2025, there was a 3.5% increase in business creation in Colombia, which was also reflected in retail sales (13.2%) and industrial sales (3%), El Colombiano
Economic Diversification: The business sector has shown a trend towards diversification, with notable growth in sectors such as agriculture, finance, and entertainment, which have been key drivers of the projected GDP growth of between 2.5% and 2.6% by 2025. EIA University Resilience: In January 2025, 62.7% of business owners rated the current situation of their companies as good, exceeding the 59.7% observed in January 2024. img.lalr.co
Challenges and areas for improvement: Labor informality: Although Colombia's unemployment rate fell to 9.6% in March 2025, the lowest level since 2017, labor informality remains a challenge, with 57.7% of workers working in informal conditions, which implies lower social security coverage and labor protection, El País.
Tax Burden and Regulations: Companies face a high tax burden and constant changes in regulations, which can affect competitiveness and investment. Changes in corporate taxation are projected, including possible increases in the tax burden for large companies, Suarezconsultoria.
Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity: It's a necessity to stay competitive, but many companies still face challenges implementing advanced technologies and protecting against cyber threats, Suarezconsultoria.
Opportunities for the future: Innovation and technology : Encouraging the adoption of emerging technologies and innovation in processes and products can open up new market opportunities. Sustainability and social responsibility: Integrating sustainable and corporate social responsibility practices can enhance reputation and open doors to international markets.
Education and training: Investing in human talent development and continuing education programs can strengthen the competitiveness and adaptability of the business sector. In short, the Colombian business community in 2025 displays a mix of strengths and challenges. Its ability to adapt, innovate, and seek new opportunities will be key to consolidating sustainable and equitable growth in the coming years.
ECONOMY: Strengths: Rich biodiversity, mineral resources, and a strong agricultural sector (coffee, flowers, bananas, and cocoa). Tourism and energy potential. Weaknesses: High informal employment, inequality, dependence on primary exports, and low investment in innovation. Proposal: Incentivize the orange, digital, and sustainable economy; stimulate rural cooperatives; and promote value-added industries (such as agribusiness).
EDUCATION: Strengths: Increasing coverage, young people interested in higher education, advances in educational technology. Weaknesses: Urban-rural quality/coverage gap, low performance on international tests, school dropout rates. Proposal: Strengthen technical and rural education, train teachers in innovative methodologies, and increase the widespread use of artificial intelligence to personalize learning.
HEALTH: strengths : care network in many regions, advances in specialized medicine .
Weaknesses : Inequality in access, health system debt, collapse of health care providers. Proposal: Structural reform of the health system, with a preventive focus and effective primary care, supported by digital technologies .
ENVIRONMENT: Strengths : High ecological diversity, multiple ecosystems (forests, moorlands, coasts). Weaknesses: Deforestation, illegal mining, biodiversity loss, poor waste management. Proposal: Support for forest guardian communities, promotion of sustainable cities, environmental education from childhood.
SECURITY AND COEXISTENCE: Strengths: Successful experiences of reintegration and restorative justice. Weaknesses: Residual violence, organized crime, perception of insecurity. Proposal to strengthen community justice, peace education, and opportunities for at-risk youth.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION: Strengths : Expanding road networks, major projects such as tunnels and highways. Weaknesses : Costly logistics, limited rail coverage, urban decay in some areas. Proposal: Restore railways, improve public transportation, promote walkable and cycle-friendly cities.
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: Strengths: Growing young entrepreneurship, programming talent, innovation hubs in Medellín, Bogotá, and Cali. Weaknesses: Low R&D budget, low technology adoption in rural areas. Proposal: Foster partnerships between universities, businesses, and governments; bring connectivity to remote areas.
CROSS-CUTTING IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS : Leveraging artificial intelligence for planning, education, health, and security; strengthening civic culture (civic spirit, honesty, and co-responsibility); empowering regions with greater autonomy and local participation; investing in children and youth as a national priority; and promoting a unifying national identity based on cultural and natural diversity.
Opinion on “AI, Colombia Diagnosis: Actions for Improvement” by José Saul Velásquez Restrepo
This document offers a comprehensive, in-depth, and structured overview of key aspects of Colombian development in 2025, from the quality of the political class to the evolution of artificial intelligence, culture, transparency, and sports. The proposal is not only diagnostic but also proactive, making it a valuable tool for citizen reflection, public policy design, and motivating new leaders. Below, I highlight the main achievements and suggest some areas for strengthening:
Highlights
Conceptual clarity and pedagogical approach.
The text precisely explains concepts such as transparency, governance, and political ethics, making it easy to understand even for non-specialist audiences. This gives it educational value.
Balanced diagnosis
It doesn't give in to pessimism or triumphalism. It acknowledges real progress (such as the national AI policy or cultural diversity) without ignoring structural flaws (political corruption, inequality, cuts to sports).
Concrete and Viable Proposals
The proposals section is one of its greatest strengths. They are realistic, applicable, and aligned with international best practices, such as promoting meritocratic leadership, using technologies for citizen participation, and protecting authentic art.
Comprehensive and transversal approach
A vision of the country is interconnected: politics, culture, technology, and sports are not analyzed as isolated compartments, but as dimensions that influence each other.
Hopeful and motivating tone.
The article conveys an invitation to act, to improve, and to trust in local capabilities. The call to active and educated citizens is especially powerful.
Suggestions for improvement
Greater technical depth in some diagnostics
The AI part, for example, could benefit from more technical examples or disaggregated figures on training, startups, and adoption in key sectors.
Add specific sources when citing reports.
Some sections mention studies or reports without detailed references. Including links or exact names would strengthen the document's credibility.
Balancing the space between sections.
The political and cultural aspects are very well developed, while sports, despite its social relevance, falls somewhat short. It would be useful to include specific proposals to address the budget cuts.
Strengthen the territorial approach.
It would be possible to delve deeper into departmental or regional realities. Colombia is very diverse, and some proposals could be adapted to the needs of the Pacific, the Llanos, the Amazon, etc.
Include a final integration section.
A paragraph linking all areas (AI, politics, culture, sports, transparency) showing how together they can contribute to the country's human and sustainable development would powerfully close the document.
General conclusion
José Saul Velásquez Restrepo's text is a valuable contribution to national strategic thinking. With vision, knowledge, and ethical acumen, he manages to connect artificial intelligence with the country's destiny, including the pillars that sustain it: education, politics, culture, and citizenship. Its greatest virtue lies in the fact that it doesn't simply denounce, but rather proposes; it doesn't simply diagnose, but mobilizes action.
