AI Fails Indigenous Communities by Excluding Native Languages and Cultural Perspectives

AI-based live transcription is failing Indigenous communities by not understanding native languages and cultural concepts.
Excluding Indigenous perspectives in designing accessibility standards and AI systems perpetuates cultural erasure.
Universal design principles often overlook Indigenous accessibility needs as there is no foundation set for them.
AI tools like image generators and chatbots lack comprehension of Indigenous cultures, symbols, and principles.
Achieving truly inclusive AI requires collaboration with diverse communities from the start, not just testing at the end.

mashable.com

Relevant topic timeline:

8/21/2023

Scientists working on AI tools for mastering African languages

### Summary A group of scientists in Africa is working to create AI tools specifically designed for African languages to address the lack of accessibility to mainstream AI technologies. ### Facts - 🌍 Many AI tools are inaccessible to billions of people who do not speak mainstream languages like English, French, and Spanish. - 🤝 The research team identified key players involved in developing African language tools and explored their experiences, motivations, focuses, and challenges. - 💡 Four crucial considerations in designing African language tools were revealed: acknowledging the impact of colonization, supporting African content creation, fostering collaboration between linguistics and computer science, and prioritizing ethical practices and community involvement. - 🛣️ The study will serve as a roadmap to develop a wide range of language tools and help preserve indigenous African languages. (Source: [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/dec/10/african-scientists-building-better-ai-voice-assistants-and-tools))

9/8/2023

Ensuring Ethical AI Development Through Indigenous Inclusion and Data Sovereignty

Summary: Artificial intelligence (AI) risks further exploitation and misrepresentation of Indigenous art, as well as encroaching on Indigenous rights, unless Indigenous people are involved in creating AI and deciding its scope, and Indigenous data sovereignty is respected.

Topics

Posted 10/1/2023, 9:00:00 AM