Machine-translated from Spanish. It may contain errors.
MinTIC demands return of COP 234.399 billion from the Centros PotencIA: according to the ministry, none of them are operating
The project was meant to bring AI training to Colombia's regions. The ministry cites the Comptroller General's Office, which puts physical progress at 2.09% and says construction has been stalled since November 2025.
Colombia's Ministry of ICT (MinTIC) has released a harsh assessment of the Centros PotencIA, the initiative through which the country planned to open artificial intelligence learning spaces outside its major cities. The original plan called for 75 centers across 26 departments, with a goal of reaching more than seven million people. Later, according to the statement, that number was cut to 60.
According to the ministry, after a contract with Findeter was signed in September 2024, all of the funds, some 234.399 billion pesos, were transferred to a fiduciary trust. Today, the agency says, not a single center is operating and no construction has begun. The statement also summarizes findings from the Comptroller General's Office, which has been following the case since January 2026: 2.09% physical progress, a standstill since November 2025, and problems with planning, land and permits.
Minister Alexandra Falla blames the previous administration and is demanding the money be returned on presidential orders. The statement gives no deadlines or mechanism, and it reflects only one side's account.
Why it matters if you build with AI: if your plans depend on public training programs or infrastructure in the regions, it pays to distinguish what is actually being executed from what has only been announced. And it's worth keeping an eye on where those funds go if they are recovered.