International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping our world at an unprecedented pace. For Indigenous Peoples, this technology can bring both significant challenges and promising opportunities. AI systems often reflect biases embedded in the data they are trained on—data that frequently excludes or misrepresents Indigenous Peoples’ voices and knowledge. Without safeguards put in place, AI can reinforce harmful biases, exclusion, and lead to further appropriation of Indigenous Peoples' culture and knowledge without their consent. Indigenous Peoples also continue to face barriers to accessing new technologies, as recognized through the World Summit of the Information Society process, especially in rural areas, widening digital divides. Yet, AI also holds potential opportunities for Indigenous Peoples. When developed inclusively and ethically, AI can support language revitalization and enhance cultural preservation . For example, AI-driven tools can help document endangered Indigenous langua...

UNESCO launched a pioneering report to foster culturally sensitive technological development and information dissemination, ensure the data sovereignty of over 800 Indigenous Peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean, and prevent inappropriate cultural adoption within the accelerated development of artificial intelligence (AI). Inteligencia artificial centrada en los pueblos indígenas: perspectivas desde América Latina y el Caribe González Zepeda, Luz Elena UNESCO Office Montevideo and Regional Bureau for Science in Latin America and the Caribbean Martínez Pinto, Cristina Elena The report, " Indigenous People-Centered Artificial Intelligence: Perspectives from Latin America and the Caribbean ," was discussed for the first time at the Third Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination, recently held in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It urges the participatory inclusion of local and indigenous communities, an appropriate data operation respecting their autonomy, proposes public policies...