Challenges and Opportunities of AI for Indigenous Peoples

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most boasted digital technology tools  for its potential in changing how we work. However, we must proceed carefully to unlock AI’s potential, especially considering the ethical implications and risks to vulnerable groups. What are the opportunities and challenges of AI for Indigenous Peoples?

Ethical Challenges

Supposedly, AI can mimic human skills in problem-solving, linguistic interactions, and other cognitive functions. Many have leveraged AI to streamline tasks and improve outcomes of their work, from menial administrative tasks to specific functions like disaster management. The potential seems to be endless.

But, it is not without a catch. Beyond all the buzz of what this tool can and will be able to do, we must also consider its ethical implications. More specifically, we must address how AI can affect minority and vulnerable groups, whose voices are often excluded in society.

For instance, the use of AI for Indigenous Peoples raises a question of rights and privacy. AI tools often operate based on ‘the open data sharing’ principle, where they are trained using available data to produce certain outcomes. This poses risks to Indigenous Peoples’ rights to own, control, benefit from, and protect their data. It is particularly relevant against the backdrop of Indigenous language and cultural erasure and appropriation.

This open data principle also risks reproducing inequalities in digital tools. Research warns how AI can perpetuate misrepresentations of Indigenous voices and knowledge. The data used to train AI may contain false biases and perceptions of Indigenous Peoples that are often rooted in colonial histories. Left unchecked, this misguided representation can be harmful, especially when used in critical sectors like healthcare and law enforcement.

Studies by Krakouer et al. and Wilson et al. find that AI systems used in child protection services in Australia and New Zealand tend to refer Indigenous children to these services more than they need to. In wrongful instances such as those, seeking accountability can be difficult, as AI-related frameworks are still largely unclear.

Furthermore, Indigenous Peoples also continue to face barriers to accessing new technologies, which further excludes their participation. The substantial amount of energy and resources used by AI data centers and other infrastructures also heightens the pressure on the environment on which they depend and hold strong ties with.

Opportunities for Culture and Environment

Still, there are also opportunities in the use of AI for Indigenous Peoples, which is all the more reason to address the challenges above. When developed ethically with the participation of Indigenous Peoples themselves, these tools can enhance cultural and environmental preservation.

For example, Michael Running Wolf utilizes AI tools to revitalize lost languages in the United States. Running Wolf, a Native American who grew up speaking the Indigenous languages he rarely finds now, aims to create resources by and for Indigenous communities to support cultural preservation and strengthen their agencies in this technological development.

Researchers have also explored AI’s potential in supporting environmental restoration in Indigenous territories. Benner et al. find that the use of a machine learning program to merge field survey and archeological data can help identify culturally relevant plants for the Heiltsuk First Nations in British Columbia, which can support conservation efforts in the area.

Furthermore, satellite imagery has been deployed to identify illegal logging and gold mining activities that encroach on Indigenous areas in the Amazon. With active involvement and agency from Indigenous communities, these tools offer a valuable support in environmental and cultural preservation, as well as social and economic welfare.

AI for Indigenous Peoples

The proliferation of artificial intelligence in our lives calls for better management and boundaries. Supporting meaningful use of AI for Indigenous Peoples means focusing on their inclusion in AI development, governance, and application, as recognized by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in 2025. Governments and tech companies are responsible for upholding this point as they create regulations and develop the future of technology.

Nonetheless, aside from all these talks about technologies, what we must prioritize is the recognition and respect of the Indigenous way of life, especially in regard to honoring nature as a source of life. Strengthening legal protections for Indigenous Peoples, recognizing their rights and voices in decision-making, and continuing to support them is crucial to this effort.

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

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