Author: Karen Hao
Publisher: MIT Technology Review
Publication Year: 2022
Summary: In the following article, Karen Hao writes the final story in a 5 part series on artificial intelligence (AI) colonialism. Parts 1 through 4 were all previously summarized. This final story takes place in rural New Zealand, following an indigenous couple who challenges AI’s identity and who it should serve. They are utilizing natural language processing algorithms to revitalize the Maori language while keeping control of their community’s data. They argue that large language models are accelerating language loss in the same way that colonization and assimilation policies did previously. It is pointed out that only the most common languages have enough speakers and profit potential for Big Tech to collect the data needed to support them. Because these services are relied upon in work and life, this coerces some communities to speak dominant languages instead of their own. This couple developed their own language AI tools, and “created mechanisms to collect, manage, and protect the flow of Maori data so it won’t be used without the community’s consent, or worse, in ways that harm its people.” The article goes on to tell a really touching story on how the pair mobilized the entire community to get the training data needed to build these algorithms and work towards saving the Maori language. This is definitely worth the read!
