AI has powerful uses for First Nations oral cultural knowledge. Here’s how

The article discusses the often overlooked potential of using AI to help Indigenous cultures, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, adapt and use AI tools in line with their traditional knowledge systems.
While there are many concerns about AI causing harms such as cultural appropriation, it argues that Indigenous cultures are actually well-suited to use AI, due to their traditional practices of orally transmitting knowledge without relying on written documentation.
An example is given of a project in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, where generative AI helped make sense of historical field notes and cultural records, which were previously locked away in distant archives.
The use of AI in a controlled environment, governed by verified and community-approved sources, was seen as a promising way to return and engage with cultural knowledge naturally, through dialogue rather than dense academic texts.
The article acknowledges the limitations of current general-purpose AI, particularly its lack of understanding of cultural protocols and potential for error, but proposes developing purpose-built AI systems that adhere to Indigenous data sovereignty and are designed to complement rather than replace traditional oral methods.
Ultimately, the article suggests that if communities have control over AI tools, they can empower younger generations and help ensure that Indigenous cultural knowledge adapts and evolves using AI responsibly.