Entrevista con Camila González, Economía para la Pipol

Introduction to the Chatbot Experience

Overview of the People Bot Development

• Mara Camila González introduces herself as co-founder and executive director of Economía para la P, discussing their experience with a practical AI laboratory course.

• The People Bot was conceptualized in late 2024 during the rise of chatbots, aiming to create a safe space for curated information rather than generating new content.

• The chatbot uses a colloquial language style distinctive to Economía para la P, making economic terms accessible on their website.

Development Process and Technology Used

• The development process began in January 2025 and took approximately nine months, launching on September 2, 2025; it remains in beta.

• Collaboration with DataSketch provided technological support while Economía para la P focused on editorial content and design aspects.

• A database was constructed from existing social media content to feed into the chatbot's responses.

Functionality and User Interaction

• Social media posts were converted into text for the chatbot to utilize, allowing it to respond effectively to user inquiries.

• Integration with Colombia's National Statistics Department enables the bot to provide graphical data alongside textual answers for enhanced user experience.

• Four user profiles were identified for the chatbot's audience, including students who benefit significantly from its functionalities.

Impact on Audience Engagement

Improvements in User Interaction

• The chatbot has improved response efficiency by handling around 100 open conversations, indicating positive engagement despite being a new tool.

• It opened avenues for experimenting with technology beyond traditional content formats like texts and videos.

Potential Revenue Opportunities

• There is potential for monetization through partnerships with organizations interested in utilizing the chatbot’s capabilities for public queries.

Incorporating AI Tools in Journalism

Internal Protocol Development

• Economy para la P is finalizing an internal protocol regarding AI usage within their team and how they communicate this to their audience.

• While using AI tools for basic tasks like research is beneficial, creating original content remains a priority due to its unique local language style.

Practical Applications of AI

• AI assists in optimizing YouTube titles and web page elements but does not replace human creativity in content creation.

• An interactive map was developed post-earthquake using AI tools that centralized donation information effectively.

Recommendations for Journalists Using AI

Advice on Adopting AI Tools

• Emphasizes that journalists should identify specific needs before adopting any AI tools instead of following trends blindly.

• Suggestion to focus on time-consuming tasks suitable for automation like transcribing interviews as initial steps towards integrating AI into workflows.

Ethical Considerations

• Teams should engage in honest discussions about what aligns with their values when implementing new technologies.

• They decided against using AI-generated scripts entirely but are open to summarizing or refining existing work through these tools.

This structured summary captures key insights from Mara Camila González's discussion about developing an intelligent chatbot at Economía para la P while also addressing broader implications of integrating artificial intelligence into journalism.