Mr. Santiago Villegas-Ceballos

Santiago Villegas-Ceballos is an internationally recognized library innovator and engineer with over two decades of experience leading digital transformation across libraries and cultural institutions in Latin America. As the founder of Medejean: Inteligencia Cultural and co-founder of IAparaBibliotecas.com, he has developed more than 70 AI-powered service prototypes—ranging from advanced user analytics to community-driven co-creation labs—and has led high-impact projects in Medellín (Colombia) and across the citizen laboratory network in Cali.

Renowned for his human-centered approach to artificial intelligence, Santiago grounds his work in critical information literacy and ethical frameworks, positioning him as a key voice in redefining library spaces as laboratories for community innovation.

At the 5th IFLA Symposium on Artificial Intelligence, Santiago will offer a unique combination of keynote insights and hands-on workshop facilitation. Drawing from his forthcoming translation of his book “AI: The Imitation Game” and his extensive librarian training programs, he will demonstrate how AI can be purposefully and ethically integrated into library ecosystems. Attendees will explore practical strategies for designing explainable, inclusive AI services that enhance community engagement and learning.

Expect a dynamic session that balances academic discourse with interactive prototyping exercises, equipping participants with the tools to transform their institutions for the evolving digital age.