Colombia's AI bill remains stalled

Colombia's bill to regulate artificial intelligence was filed in Congress, later shelved, then reintroduced and given presidential urgency, but by May 2026 it was still in first debate, according to Semana's coverage of the country's AI policy debate.

What is the bill trying to regulate?

The text, identified by Tech Policy Press as Bill 025 of 2026 in the House of Representatives, seeks to create a broad framework for the ethical and responsible development of AI, modeled on the European Union's AI Act. It would apply to developers, providers and users of AI systems.

The proposal includes different obligations for systems that could significantly affect fundamental rights. Planned mechanisms include risk and impact assessments, transparency, human oversight, monitoring, public supervision and penalties for noncompliance.

Why is it sparking debate in Colombia?

Tech Policy Press says the bill has been criticized for poorly copying elements of the European model and for failing to fit the country's institutional capacity or local regulatory context. That criticism raises questions about whether it can actually be implemented.

The same analysis also points to concerns about possible harm to innovation and the attraction of technology investment. At the same time, the legislative process signals an environment that is still taking shape, with no mature AI policy in place.

What other fronts does the AI debate show?

Semana said that during the 2024, 2025 legislative session, ten AI-related bills were processed in Colombia, one was approved and nine were archived. That points to a scattered agenda rather than a consolidated policy.

Impacto TIC reported that one of the filed bills aims not only to regulate, but also to promote AI development, ethical use and governance. Its components include a National Artificial Intelligence Council attached to the presidency, a national education and digital talent strategy in AI, and guidelines to prevent digital crimes against minors.

The same Impacto TIC column argues that regulation should be linked to a National Artificial Intelligence System coordinated by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, to bring together research, talent development, computing infrastructure, risk assessment, ethics and governance. In that view, the legislative proposals form part of a broader institutional architecture.

How does the debate affect other sectors?

ConsultorSalud reported the filing of Bill 177 of 2026 in the House of Representatives, which proposes adding clinically assisted infrared thermography using AI as a complementary screening method for breast cancer. The plan includes a 24-month national pilot and a prior technical-scientific review by the IETS before any funding with UPC resources.

Infobae, meanwhile, reported the Democratic Center's proposal to provide free training each year to 100,000 young people in technology, with instruction in programming, software development, artificial intelligence and data analysis. That education push adds to the implementation needs of any regulatory framework.

Portafolio said the European Union's AI law, in force since August 2, 2026, is already creating transparency obligations for providers offering digital services from Colombia to the European market. That extraterritorial compliance layer is pushing for clearer local rules.

On the financial side, Finance AI Insiders warned that Colombia's accelerated effort to regulate AI, inspired by the European AI Act, can be read as a caution signal for capital and startups in the sector. The reason is uncertainty over future compliance, oversight and penalties.