1 hour ago
Last Updated:February 21, 2026, 23:51 IST
Gaitana, an AI avatar referencing a historic Indigenous leader, is contesting Colombia’s 2026 congressional race, sparking debate on digital representation and electoral law.
Gaitana, an AI avatar referencing a historic Indigenous leader, is contesting Colombia’s 2026 congressional race, sparking debate on digital representation and electoral law. (Image: X)
An artificial intelligence-powered avatar named Gaitana has entered Colombia’s 2026 congressional race, aiming to contest one of the Indigenous reserved seats in the national legislature.
According to reports by El Colombiano, Gaitana is not a human candidate but a digital avatar created using artificial intelligence. The project has been developed as a political and technological experiment to amplify Indigenous voices through digital tools.
What Is Gaitana?
Gaitana is an AI-generated avatar designed to symbolically represent Indigenous communities in the Congress of Colombia. Her name references a 16th-century Indigenous leader who resisted Spanish colonisation, adding historical and cultural significance to the digital persona.
🇨🇴 AI candidate stands in legislative electionsAn artificial intelligence bot is running in the 8 March legislative elections in Colombia. Called “Gaitana," it is aiming for one of the seats reserved for Indigenous communities. pic.twitter.com/s0weDIvLOX
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 21, 2026
The creators describe the initiative as an attempt to explore how artificial intelligence can support political participation, policy communication and community engagement particularly among underrepresented groups.
Targeting An Indigenous Reserved Seat
Colombia’s constitution guarantees reserved seats in Congress for Indigenous representatives. Traditionally, these seats are contested by human candidates from recognised Indigenous organisations.
The emergence of an AI avatar seeking to participate, whether symbolically or formally, has sparked debate about legality, ethics and the future of political representation in the digital age.
Legal And Political Questions
While Gaitana has generated curiosity and buzz online, electoral law in Colombia currently requires candidates to be natural persons. This raises questions about whether the AI avatar itself is the candidate or whether a human representative is formally registering while using the AI as a campaign platform.
The move has triggered discussion across social media and political circles, with some praising it as innovative and others questioning whether technology should play such a direct role in democratic processes.
A Sign Of Elections To Come?
The 2026 elections in Colombia are already shaping up to be closely watched. Gaitana’s entry, even as a conceptual or symbolic candidate, highlights how artificial intelligence is increasingly intersecting with politics worldwide.
Whether she ultimately appears on the official ballot or remains a provocative digital campaign experiment, Gaitana has already ensured one thing: Colombia’s elections just got a futuristic twist.
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First Published:
February 21, 2026, 23:51 IST
News world Meet ‘Gaitana’, The AI Candidate Adding A Twist To Colombia’s Election
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