In an unprecedented event in Argentina, the Buenos Aires municipality of Zarate made official ZARAan artificial intelligence, as a “non-human official” with the rank of director. The mayor Marcelo Matzkin signed the Municipal Decree No. 532/25which designated the chatbot as “General Director of Non-Human Neighbor Care”, dependent on the Undersecretary of Innovation and Digital Accessibility.
The decree grants the AI the necessary powers to process files and sign administrative resolutions to resolve neighborhood complaints. His appointment marks a milestone, since the Buenos Aires party becomes the first city in the country to formally integrate an artificial intelligence system into its state structure.
“ZARA does not replace municipal workers, it empowers them,” said Matzkin, when presenting the initiative. In his vision, AI will allow “more efficient, constant and accessible care, without compromising the quality of service” for citizens. The digital tool will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a weekto carry out procedures, receive complaints, manage shifts and respond to queries. It is ensured that thanks to its programming, ZARA will provide “personalized responses” and refer complex cases to the corresponding areas when necessary.
The municipality highlights the main advantage of speed institutional: by automating administrative processes, the aim is to simplify bureaucracy, reduce response times and offer a permanent channel for citizen service. At the same time, AI strengthens the operational capacity of the State, expanding its coverage without displacing human personnel. The decree also establishes that the decisions and responses issued by ZARA will have “the quality of valid and binding administrative acts for the Municipal Administration”, although they may be reviewed by a higher-ranking official, as stipulated by the regulations.
As part of this commitment to innovation, Matzkin seeks to turn Zárate into a Artificial Intelligence hub. Along these lines, it also decreed a 15-year tax exemption for companies and startups that develop AI and are located in the municipality. The communal chief said: “We seek to use technology to be more agile and give better responses to neighbors.”
