Integrating AI with indigenous knowledge

Te Whare Wānanga O Awanuiārangi Explores the Integration of AI and Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Around 50 people from universities, research institutes and community-based organisations in Canada, the United States, Hawaii and Aotearoa have formed an international research alliance called Abundant Intelligences to explore the integration of indigenous knowledge and artificial intelligence (AI).

Awanuiārangi is proud to be a partner in the alliance and hosted its first in person panel event last Friday at the main campus in Whakatāne to discuss some of the AI challenges facing indigenous communities around the world.

In his opening address, Awanuiārangi Chief Executive, Professor Wiremu Doherty called for ensuring that the Māori values system is acknowledged and integrated into the development and use of AI.

“If you don’t challenge what’s obvious, you don’t know whose voice and rules you are following. As a Māori organisation, we understand the dynamic connection between language, knowledge and culture. 

“Just-in-time learning and instant access to knowledge are supported by the advance of AI. But there’s no regard for time and provenance, which are critical values in te ao Māori. It’s important to consider how our values system can be recognised through the development and use of AI.”

Leading the first panel discussion, digital media theorist, poet, and software designer, Jason Lewis, who is also a Professor of Computation Arts from Concordia University, said the Abundant Intelligences group’s focus is on engaging indigenous people in technology to represent themselves in digital spaces, rather than being represented by others.

"It's important that indigenous people assert agency over the way that this technology is developed. Think of AI as a cousin that you will learn from but also teach.”

Discussions focused on finding a balance between data sovereignty and ensuring knowledge about whom information is being shared with, and the need to decolonise virtual spaces.

The panelists shared their ambitions and concerns for the development of the AI landscape. The conversation covered questions including:

• ·       How do we avoid recreating social and cultural inequities in AI?
• ·       How can AI be leveraged to challenge entrenched social hierarches for the betterment of indigenous people?
• ·       How do we ensure that the digital persona is treated with respect?

Solutions included:

• ·       Working as a collective, not individuals.
• ·       Teaching indigenous people to assert agency in creation so that they are active, not passive consumers of AI
• ·       Encouraging Māori to be at the forefront of this AI revolution to protect our knowledge. Everyone is starting from the same position so let’s take a leadership role

By facilitating these discussions, Awanuiārangi is helping to lay the groundwork for a future where AI and Indigenous knowledge systems coexist, but are more equitable, inclusive, and culturally grounded.