AI and Indigenous Communities: Risks and the Need for Inclusion

The Risks of AI on Indigenous Knowledges and Communities

Since artificial intelligence (AI) became mainstream, its risks, such as fueling deep fakes, threatening privacy, and accelerating the climate crisis, have been documented. However, the specific risks to Indigenous knowledges and communities remain poorly understood. This is because the AI industry and governments have largely ignored Indigenous people in the development and regulation of AI technologies.

Indigenous Concerns and Involvement

Indigenous peoples are actively engaged in conversations, research, and sharing concerns about AI and related technologies.

Cultural Intellectual Property Theft

AI image generation programs can easily misappropriate cultural knowledges by mimicking Indigenous styles and stories of art. These generations, derived from large data sets, lack the storying and cultural knowledge present in Indigenous art practices.

Misinformation

AI technologies can worsen the spread of misinformation about Indigenous people by conflating them with other global Indigenous peoples and drawing on inappropriate sources.

Political Contexts

AI has been used in political contexts to depict Indigenous people, causing harm, as seen during Australia’s Voice to Parliament referendum.

Lack of Understanding

A significant portion of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population lacks understanding of generative AI, highlighting the need for relevant information and training.

Neutrality of Technology

Technology is not neutral; it reflects the control and voices involved. When Indigenous perspectives are excluded from AI design, it leads to exploitation rather than innovation.

Indigenous Data Sovereignty

Indigenous data sovereignty is crucial, meaning Indigenous people retain ownership and control over their data. Maiam nayri Wingara in Australia provides principles for data sovereignty and governance, affirming Indigenous rights to govern their data ecosystems.

National and Global Agreements

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap affirms the importance of Indigenous data control and access. Globally, Indigenous scholars have laid out how Indigenous protocols can inform ethically created AI, centralizing Indigenous knowledges.

Government Guardrails

The Australian government's proposed AI guardrails highlight the importance of Indigenous data sovereignty, requiring additional transparency and considerations when using data about or owned by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to mitigate social inequalities.

Indigenous Futurisms

Indigenous Futurisms, coined by Grace Dillon, are diverse visions unified by an understanding of reality as a living, interconnected whole and a non-linear view of time, as defined by Ambelin Kwaymullina.

Integrating Indigenous Ways of Knowing

To inform AI technologies with Indigenous ways of knowing, industry must involve Indigenous people in creating, maintaining, and evaluating technologies. Governments need to consult with Indigenous peoples to regulate the use of these technologies, ensuring ethical AI behavior that honors Indigenous worldviews.

Call to Action

AI developers and governments must involve Indigenous people in developing and regulating AI technology to ensure it benefits all of humanity.