LucIA: An AI Chatbot for Public Procurement Transparency

A 360° conversation about public projects and infrastructure made simple with generative AI

Imagine a solution that transforms how governments, the private sector and citizens interact with public procurement. That is LucIA, the public procurement chatbot: a technological tool designed and developed by the Transparencia Inteligente team that allows users to access information about tenders, infrastructure projects and public contracts through WhatsApp in real time.

LucIA aims to make public management more transparent while opening opportunities for companies and empowering citizens with clearer access to information.

What is LucIA?

LucIA is a chatbot powered by generative artificial intelligence that centralizes and simplifies complex and dispersed data related to public procurement. Through natural language and an intuitive interface, users—whether public officials, entrepreneurs or citizens—can interact directly with information about infrastructure projects and public works.

For example, users can ask how much a hospital costs to build, why a project is delayed or which public tenders are currently open. LucIA explains these issues clearly and in real time.

Technically, LucIA combines generative AI with real-time data retrieval technologies. It uses large language models supported by tools such as LangChain and Pinecone, which transform public procurement data, news and other sources into searchable embeddings that allow the system to respond quickly and accurately. Cloud infrastructure and data systems ensure that the information remains accessible and reliable.

What is it for?

LucIA helps make complex public procurement information easier to understand.

For local governments, it strengthens transparency and accountability by providing citizens with accessible information about public projects and infrastructure.

For the private sector, including contractors, suppliers and investors, it offers valuable data about tenders and projects, helping them improve planning, competitiveness and strategic decision-making.

For citizens, it becomes a direct channel to monitor public resources, report irregularities and better understand how public works affect their daily lives.

Why is it special?

LucIA is not just another chatbot. It is an innovative tool designed to generate public value.

First, it uses disruptive technology. By relying on generative AI, LucIA can evolve continuously as new data sources and analytical capabilities are added.

Second, it strengthens transparency and trust in public administration. By making contracts and infrastructure projects easier to understand, it empowers governments, companies and citizens to make better decisions.

Third, its flexible design allows it to adapt to different contexts. LucIA can work with local governments, private companies and communities in both small municipalities and large cities, as long as public data is available.

What comes next?

The prototype developed with generative AI has already demonstrated its capacity to manage complex data and respond to real user questions. In early testing, more than 80% of users highlighted its usefulness.

This is only the beginning. New improvements are being developed to expand LucIA’s capabilities and continue exploring how artificial intelligence can support transparency, digital transformation and innovation in public procurement.

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Transparencia Inteligente is a team formed through the partnership between Fit Ideas SAS and Gobierna Bien SAS. It was created within the framework of the Corrupción Cero program to accelerate GovTech solutions with the support of CAF — Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean — in collaboration with Rewired.