Concordia University is launching the Abundant Intelligences program to challenge conventional AI biases that marginalize Indigenous perspectives. This interdisciplinary initiative aims to embed Indigenous knowledge into technology, promoting diverse understandings of intelligence. Key researchers emphasize the need to reframe AI’s development away from a scarcity mindset toward one that supports cultural richness and sustainability.
Concordia University is spearheading an innovative research initiative called the Abundant Intelligences program, aiming to challenge traditional notions of artificial intelligence (AI), which often lean towards Western perspectives. This international and interdisciplinary initiative seeks to integrate Indigenous knowledge systems, promoting a more inclusive understanding of intelligence that can enhance the development of technologies in a culturally sensitive manner.
The recent paper published in
AI & Society highlights the concern that AI’s historical focus has perpetuated colonial viewpoints that diminish diverse ways of understanding intelligence. Ceyda Yolgörmez, a postdoctoral fellow involved in the project, emphasizes how past frameworks have contributed to a ‘scarcity mindset,’ leading to resource exploitation and marginalization of Indigenous voices.
Emphasizing abundance over scarcity, the researchers believe that this transformative approach can realign AI to support human flourishing, revitalizing Indigenous languages, tackling sustainability challenges, and rethinking public health solutions. The program operates from Concordia in Montreal, with dedicated research clusters, known as pods, located across Canada, the U.S., and New Zealand, ensuring collaboration with communities and Indigenous knowledge-holders.
These research pods focus on leveraging the expertise of Indigenous practitioners and academics while integrating insights from AI professionals to explore new research avenues. Yolgörmez poses intriguing questions about building effective systems using limited Indigenous language data, pushing for innovations that support non-human actors and diverse activities within AI frameworks.
The approach advocated by Lewis and fellow researchers offers a fresh perspective compared to conventional AI research, particularly in terms of data ethics and community engagement. Their commitment to utilizing Indigenous data reflects a dedication to ethical practices rather than mere data scraping, highlighting the value of working with smaller datasets to foster novel methodologies.
This decolonial perspective champions the idea that there are multiple ways of conceptualizing and achieving goals in AI, a notion echoed by Hemi Whaanga from Massey University, who also contributed significantly to the associated paper. This multidimensional exploration promises to cultivate richer, more nuanced applications of AI that resonate with diverse cultural narratives.
The Abundant Intelligences project by Concordia University is a response to the prevailing biases in the dominant AI narratives, which often marginalize non-Western perspectives, particularly those rooted in Indigenous wisdom. The initiative aims to reframe discussions around AI by integrating Indigenous knowledge systems, fostering a collective understanding of intelligence that respects diverse cultural methodologies while addressing pressing issues like sustainability and public health. Understanding AI’s historical context—shaped by colonial influences—is crucial to appreciating how these frameworks have perpetuated a limited, extraction-driven mindset that overlooks holistic approaches to intelligence. By centering on Indigenous philosophies, the research promises a fresh direction in the development and application of technology, encouraging an ethical, inclusive framework.
Concordia University’s Abundant Intelligences program represents a significant step towards inclusivity and ethical transformation in artificial intelligence. By integrating Indigenous knowledge systems, the initiative seeks to dismantle existing biases and promote diverse perspectives on intelligence. This collaboration not only addresses historical injustices but also paves the way for innovative solutions in technology, sustainability, and community well-being, illustrating the profound potential of rethinking AI through a decolonial lens.
Original Source: educationnewscanada.com
