Colombia is giving its police force a new kind of toolkit, not just radios and patrol cars, but algorithms, data, and smart cameras. The twist is that a big part of this leap is being built hand in hand with India.
For readers who still see AI as something from science fiction, this story lands it on the streets, in stations, and inside control rooms. It is about how code can help protect people, but also about the rules needed along the way.
A digital alliance with India
In 2024, the Minister of ICT Mauricio Lizcano signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian authorities to boost cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital government, digital public infrastructure, and training of IT talent. The idea is clear: Colombia wants to become a tech producer.
India, which already runs large digital identity and payment systems, offers experience in building platforms that serve millions of users. For Colombia, having that partner means shortcuts in know-how and credibility when designing its own AI center and public services.
The agreement also includes a joint working group to develop strategies for inclusive and fair AI use, digital education, and government digitalization. In simple terms, both countries want AI that works for regular citizens, not just for experts and big companies.
Colombia signed a separate memorandum with the United Arab Emirates to boost AI and digital education projects, which shows how serious the country is about finding several tech allies at once.
Police officers in the classroom, in India
This high-level diplomacy turns very concrete when uniforms sit in a classroom. In March 2025, 25 Colombian police officers, from patrol level to lieutenant colonel, started a two-week training program in India on AI applied to citizen security.
For many of them, it was the first time abroad on a course like this. The training focuses on predictive crime analysis, data analytics, and tools that can help send officers where they are most needed, instead of reacting late to emergencies.
The program treats AI as a strategic area for the future of public security. It looks at how algorithms can detect patterns, unusual behavior, or risky situations that human eyes might miss in hours of video or long lists of reports.
The promise is simple: better information should lead to smarter patrol routes, faster responses, and more face-to-face work with citizens, instead of drowning in paperwork and raw data.
Sixteen AI ideas for safer cities
In May 2025, after returning from India, those 25 officers met the Indian ambassador in Bogota and presented 16 AI-based initiatives for policing. The projects cover almost every corner of the institution’s daily work.
Some proposals focus on predictive and anticipatory policing, with systems that integrate reports and alerts to suggest where crime may rise. Others look at smart video surveillance and automated facial recognition in airports and terminals, always raising the question of how to protect privacy.
There are plans for AI tools that analyze criminal networks as graphs, detect fake documents, and improve border monitoring in critical zones. Drones with AI support are also proposed for monitoring, supply missions, and humanitarian assistance during disasters.
Other initiatives aim at internal improvement, such as using AI to study posture and working conditions to reduce injuries, or building virtual training rooms that mix artificial intelligence with augmented and virtual reality for realistic practice sessions.
Benefits, risks, and global context
Colombia is not alone in this move. Police forces in cities such as London, New York, and Singapore already experiment with systems that scan camera feeds or analyze data to deploy patrols more efficiently.
Supporters argue that, when used well, these tools can reduce response times, concentrate efforts on hot spots, and free officers from routine tasks. That could mean more time for community work, which is still central to long-term security.
But civil society groups around the world warn about risks such as biased algorithms, over-surveillance, and weak data protection. Colombian authorities now face the same challenge, using AI in a way that respects rights and keeps human judgment in the loop.
This is where the digital government agenda connects with police projects. Strict rules on data, audits for algorithms, and clear accountability can help ensure that AI supports public safety, instead of becoming a black box that nobody understands.
A smarter badge for a digital era
Colombia’s bet on AI for public security shows how policing is changing. The badge is still there, but next to it sit servers, dashboards, and code built with partners in India and beyond.
If the country manages to combine training, clear rules, and real community benefits, these projects could turn into a model for other Latin American forces. If not, they risk becoming shiny tools with little trust. The coming years will show which path wins.
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