Leveraging AI to Preserve Indigenous Languages
Indigenous languages are quickly disappearing, with one language dying every two weeks as its last speaker passes away. According to Michael Running Wolf, founder of Indigenous in AI, an international community of Native engineers, most Native American languages in the U.S. could be lost within the next five to ten years. Running Wolf is committed to preserving these languages through artificial intelligence (AI).
At First Languages AI Reality, part of the Mila-Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Running Wolf’s team is developing speech recognition models for over 200 endangered Indigenous languages in North America. However, they face a critical challenge: there aren’t enough Indigenous computer science graduates with the knowledge of both AI and Native culture to drive these preservation efforts.
The Importance of Cultural Sensitivity in AI Development
Running Wolf emphasizes the need for AI projects to respect cultural data, especially when the data involves information from speakers who have passed away. “The core data we use isn’t just tweets or social media posts; it’s deeply culturally identifying information,” he said. This perspective ensures that Indigenous communities maintain their connection to the data and respect for their traditions.
Unfortunately, Indigenous scientists are scarce in the tech field. “We only graduate one or two Indigenous Ph.D.s in AI and computer science every year,” said Running Wolf. In the U.S., Indigenous people represent less than 0.005% of the tech workforce, and Native-founded companies receive less than 0.02% of total venture capital funding.
Bridging the Gap: Indigenous Engineers Lead the Way
Despite these obstacles, a small group of Indigenous engineers is leading organizations like First Languages AI Reality, IndigiGenius, Tech Natives, and the Wihanble S’a Center for Indigenous AI. These initiatives aim to train Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students in computer science to help preserve their culture and languages using AI.
“Traditionally, AI assumes that data is proprietary, and that can be harmful for Indigenous communities,” said Running Wolf. His team is working to create ethical AI models that respect Indigenous cultures and languages.
Building the Indigenous Tech Workforce
Kyra Kaya, a computer science student at Yale University and a beneficiary of Tech Natives, is working on AI projects to honor her Native Hawaiian roots. Kaya created an AI tool to recognize Hawaiian Pidgin English, a stigmatized creole language spoken by many in Hawaii. She aims to change the narrative around Pidgin and help people reconnect with their linguistic heritage.
AI tools like Kaya’s have the potential to uplift marginalized groups and give Indigenous people a significant role in the technology industry. “AI and the tech industry have the power to either uplift or silence marginalized groups like mine,” Kaya stated.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Tech Leaders
To help nurture more Indigenous tech talent, IndigiGenius hosts a Lakota AI Code Camp every summer in South Dakota, where Native teens learn to create an app documenting Lakota culture. Since 2022, the camp has trained over 30 students, many of whom have returned as instructors or pursued further tech education.
Additionally, IndigiGenius has launched T3PD, a program that trains Native high school teachers to develop culturally relevant computer science courses. Native students have less access to computer science education than any other demographic, and this initiative helps bridge that gap.
“We’re making AI education culturally relevant by combining Indigenous knowledge with technology,” explained Andrea Delgado-Olson, Executive Director of IndigiGenius.
Using AI to Preserve More Than Language
AI is also being used to preserve other aspects of Indigenous culture. Madeline Gupta, a Chippewa student at Yale University, is working on a project to reconnect Native youth with their ancestral lands. After learning about the historical displacement of her people, Gupta created an immersive virtual reality experience to help young people “visit” their traditional lands and learn from tribal elders through 3D video recordings.
In addition to cultural preservation, AI is also finding its way into art. Suzanne Kite, an artist at the Wihanble S’a Center for Indigenous AI, is using machine learning to create ethical art based on Indigenous knowledge. Kite explores Lakota dream language and creates geometric designs inspired by her dreams, challenging Western perceptions of AI.
Looking Ahead: Ethical AI for Future Generations
While these Indigenous AI projects are still in the early stages, Running Wolf is hopeful that his efforts will become less necessary in the future. His goal is to revitalize dying languages and empower new generations of Native speakers to create ethical AI. “I hope this technology will be remembered as an artifact of a troubled time,” he said.
By continuing to develop ethical AI models and supporting Indigenous students in tech, these engineers are working to preserve Native cultures for future generations while challenging the tech industry’s traditional norms.
Source: NBC News
