Indigenous technologists are working to save their rapidly disappearing languages using artificial intelligence technology. Michael Running Wolf, founder of Indigenous in AI, leads an initiative at the Mila-Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute to develop speech recognition models for over 200 endangered Native American languages, as one Indigenous language dies every two weeks globally.
The effort faces significant challenges due to the shortage of Indigenous computer scientists, with less than 0.005% representation in the U.S. tech workforce. To address this gap, organizations like First Languages AI Reality, IndigiGenius, and Tech Natives are training Native American students in computer science while ensuring ethical AI development that respects Indigenous cultural data and traditions. Projects include language preservation tools, virtual reality experiences of ancestral lands, and AI applications for cultural art forms.
Source: NBC News