Source: Native News Online

This opinion piece from Native News Online, authored by an expert on Indigenous issues, puts artificial intelligence "on trial," arguing that current AI development poses a significant threat to Indigenous cultures, knowledge, and data sovereignty. The author contends that generative AI models, trained on vast datasets scraped from the internet, often misrepresent, stereotype, or outright appropriate Indigenous art, languages, and sacred stories without consent, context, or compensation. This process amounts to a new form of digital colonialism that perpetuates historical harms.

The article highlights the inherent biases within these systems, which are predominantly developed without the input or consultation of Indigenous communities. As a result, AI models fail to understand and respect the cultural protocols and communal ownership principles that govern Indigenous knowledge. The author calls for a fundamental shift in AI development, urging for the creation of ethical frameworks that are co-designed with Indigenous peoples. This includes respecting the principles of Indigenous data sovereignty, ensuring proper representation, and developing AI that serves, rather than exploits, Native American and other Indigenous communities.