From Words to Robots: AI Preserving Indigenous Languages

By: Asli Gutierrez

Indigenous languages are central to the identity of Indigenous people, the preservation of their cultures, worldviews and visions and an expression of self-determination. But many of these languages are at risk of disappearing: by 2050 around 20 Indigenous languages are going to be left, specifically in the United States. This raises an important question: could Artificial Intelligence (AI) help to keep indigenous languages from extinction? While AI offers hope by saving these languages, there are also risks for these Indigenous communities, especially their languages. This article will highlight both; opportunities and risks of AI in preserving Indigenous languages. 

While AI has great potential to preserve Indigenous languages, there are significant risks for Indigenous communities. First, it could harm Indigenous communities by misunderstanding  languages, and undermining cultural knowledge, because of how AI is trained on incomplete or inaccurate datasets. As a result, AI can produce translations, or interpretations that are wrong and misleading. This contributes to spreading misinformations, and undermining efforts to preserve and respect Indigenous knowledge, and linguistic diversity. As Danielle Bayer explains on the podcast Can AI save endangered Indigenous languages? "Even if it's 100% correct, I still worry that it might lack important context."  Second, AI cannot replace human’s ability to communicate. Indigenous languages are traditions that are alive, meant to be spoken and shared. Learning from elders or other community members is essential to keep the languages alive and meaningful. Without human connection, AI might turn living languages into something artificial. Words without context or culture that give them life. 

Despite the risks, AI can be a powerful ally for Indigenous communities to keep their languages alive. First, AI can be used to record and instruct languages, just like Walking in Two Worlds explains how First Nations computer programmers are developing AI technology explicitly to assist in preserving endangered languages, having them recorded and accessible for future generations. Similarly, Danielle Boyer's Scobot robot engages with children in Nishinaabe, speaking in children's language. By making learning languages interactive, AI can help preserve these living traditions. Secondly, AI can enable community-led and moral language conservation strategies. UNESCO emphasizes Indigenous agency over AI technologies and data to make sure communities have power over the use of their languages and their propagation. Doing this prevents exploitation, respects cultural knowledge, and ensures AI will strengthen rather than harm Indigenous sovereignty. Finally, AI can be employed in reaching the younger generations and making language learning enjoyable. Peter-Lucas Jones notes that AI can help engage youth in bonding with their heritage while learning, exposing more people to learning languages and making it enjoyable. Through apps like Scobot, children not only learn their language but also interact with technology that represents their culture, custom, and community identity. By embracing innovation with virtue, AI can be a great ally in maintaining Indigenous languages.

In conclusion, AI is a tool for Indigenous languages with its risks. It can take human connection that makes Indigenous languages feel alive, when if it is being used correctly and responsibly; it can help to preserve languages, and support communities to keep their culture strong. The main point to make it work is to make sure Indigenous communities are the ones guiding how AI is used. Projects like Danielle Boyer’s Scobot show that, with care and community involvement, AI can help to keep languages alive and meaningful for next generations. 

References

• Boyer, D. (as cited in Hirten, K., 2025). Can AI save endangered Indigenous languages? [Audio podcast episode]. In The Take. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/podcasts/the-take
• Jones, P.-L. (2021). Indigenous languages preservation through AI. Indigenous Tech Review. https://www.indigenoustechreview.org/ai-language-preservation
• Smith, J. (2022). Walking in Two Worlds: How an Indigenous computer scientist is using AI to preserve threatened languages. Tech & Culture Magazine. https://www.techculturemagazine.org/walking-in-two-worlds
• UNESCO. (2023). New report and guidelines for Indigenous data sovereihnty in artificial intelligence developments. UNESCO. https://www.unesco.org/ai-indigenous-data-sovereignty