AI in Local Governments: From Hype to the Benefit of Average Citizens

Three years into the AI hype, local governments face a critical question: are we adopting technology that actually serves citizens, or just considering buying expensive solutions to problems neither we nor tech vendors have properly understood? This talk examines the gap between AI promises and operational reality in public administration, drawing from practical experience at Bogotá (Colombia) City Hall. Through a critical review of real use cases, it argues that meaningful AI adoption in government requires a rethink of public procurement rules that lag behind tech innovation cycles, honest public-private dialogue, and a commitment to measuring success by whether it improves the life of the most vulnerable citizens.

Carlos Lasprilla is a lawyer (Universidad Javeriana, 2013) with a master’s degree in economic law (Universidad Externado, 2018) and an LL.M. in Law and Technology (King’s College London, 2023). Carlos has been a lecturer of constitutional law and, since 2024, of AI for lawyers, at Universidad Javeriana. He has worked for an NGO dedicated to the justice sector, the Colombian Senate, a boutique public law firm, and -currently- for the Bogotá Mayor’s Office.