Rohan Qurashi 
Indigenous languages are like Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities – each steeped in legacy, with different stories woven over time. If not preserved with authenticity, these languages could fade from existence. The revitalisation and preservation of indigenous languages have emerged as priorities within both cultural and technological realms.
In this era of deterritorialisation, technological advancements have both endangered and provided new means of safeguarding linguistic diversity. Initially, this “time-space compression” led to the establishment of English as the lingua franca, which promoted the “Americanisation” of social media and limited the growth and use of indigenous tongues. This notion of a “global language” has been criticised for contributing to linguistic imperialism. In response, resistance has emerged through movements, educational emphasis on multilingualism and digital projects aimed at promoting minority languages.
However, this cultural firewalling also reveals the positive side of globalisation, as online platforms enable us to maintain ethnolinguistic resilience. The use of AI-driven technologies is one such example.
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AI has played an indispensable role in the domain of language, aligning with indigenous epistemologies and sensibilities. One example is New Zealand’s initiative to preserve Te Reo, the language of the Māori community. By leveraging AI-driven tools like the Kōrero Māori app, the non-profit media organisation Te Hiku has contributed to reviving this endangered language. This initiative has not only made the language accessible in the digital space but also ensured its sustainability for future generations.
Another example is the “50 words project” by the University of Melbourne, an initiative aimed at preserving the indigenous languages of Australia by collecting and sharing 50 words from each language across the country. By recording native speakers and mapping each language to its respective area, this project not only promotes indigenous Australian languages but also makes them accessible to the public.
Utilising technology to preserve languages at risk of extinction can deepen cultural understanding. Additionally, integrating AI could further enhance such efforts by automating language processing and analysis. In this way, AI-driven projects working towards linguistic repatriation in countries like Brazil, Australia and New Zealand, among others, demonstrate that technology can promote cultural diversity and linguistic identity. This challenges hyperglobalist theories that argue globalisation weakens the cultural walls of nations.
In the era of “digital empowerment,” Worldism acknowledges the multifaceted perspectives of various indigenous communities and the role of technology in adapting to diverse cultural contexts rather than imposing a singular Western notion.
The collaboration between the government of Iceland and OpenAI to preserve the Icelandic language through AI tools is a prime example of how nations are using modern technology to support indigenous languages by developing natural language processing models tailored to unique linguistic structures. With growing tourism and digital connectedness with the U.S. and Europe, Iceland has seen English becoming more dominant. Currently, more than 370,000 Icelanders speak English, raising concerns about the Icelandic language losing its primary status. By digitising the language with AI, Iceland aims to protect linguistic diversity and promote cultural identity.
In Africa, the preservation of indigenous languages is being championed by a grassroots organisation named Masakhane. With a focus on advancing natural language processing for African languages, Masakhane’s volunteers and researchers are creating machine translation tools for various languages across the continent, fostering digital inclusivity. This initiative underscores the importance of community-driven AI projects in revitalising linguistic diversity and addressing language barriers.
Including indigenous languages within the AI domain broadens the scope of technological inclusivity. Unlike many contemporary AI models that often use data without consent, collaborations with indigenous communities encourage the ethical sourcing of linguistic materials. Through such collaborations, modern technology can become more inclusive, moving beyond the rhetoric of “Westernisation of tech tools” and promoting advancements in AI that are both ethically sound and technologically progressive.
Rohan Qurashi is a political science student at St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi. He currently works as a research intern at the Centre for Northeast Asian Studies (CNEAS) at OP Jindal Global University.