Intercultural AI: Exchange, Dialogue, and Conflict
Abstract: Students from low-resourced language backgrounds, like those from the Global South region, are secluded within the AI system, they need an opportunity to express themselves and put forward their opinion on how best to come up with a more inclusive AI system that allows diverse cultural backgrounds and collaboration. AI systems developed for students from the Global South may not conform to the exact need of the students. In addressing the problem, we, the Imagine AI team based at the University of Colorado Boulder in the USA, collaborated with partners in Nigeria, Brazil, and South Korea to organize a series of writing contests for local high school students in those countries to write about AI. The students wrote short articles and stories about AI to compete for prizes. They wrote in their local languages to express their opinions about AI and make recommendations based on their desires. Our US-based team consists of international students who also came from Nigeria, Brazil, and South Korea to ensure an accurate and unbiased understanding of students’ writings. We analyzed the written stories collected across the countries we consider to be underrepresented within the AI system to get insight into the sentiment they share. Additionally, we surveyed existing applications that allow for collaborative learning and recommended possible areas of improvement. The pilot work we did in Latin America (Brazil and Mexico) was a success and hence a pointer to the viability of the scope of this project. The implications of this study show that students across Africa, Asia, and Latin America appreciate the potential and trends in technological advancements. However, the majority of responses from the students suggest the need for deliberate efforts to be channeled toward incorporating fairness and diversity while upholding ethical values in the AI system. Finally, we recommend the concept of participatory design and usability testing with identified end users in developing these systems.
Author bio: Cornelius Adejoro is a Ph.D. student at the University of Colorado Boulder USA, advised by Prof. Tom Yeh. Mr. Adejero received a Master degree in Computer Science from the University of Nigeria in Nsukka. Mr. Adejero has authored and co-authored several research publications in the area of human-computer interaction, big data, and cybersecurity, such as “Users’ Perception of Social Media Opportunities and Challenges” and “Contemporary View of Human System Integration in System Development Process.” After receiving his Master degree in Computer Science, rather than working in a large technology company, Mr. Adejoro wanted to put his skills and knowledge into serving underprivileged children and decided to take up a teaching job by joining Nigeria-Korea Model School where he taught children in basic school for six years. As a member of Black in AI, Mr. Adejoro is passionate about AI’s potential to transform education in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa. Given his current research interest, extensive computer science training, and deep AI knowledge, Mr. Adejoro is uniquely qualified to lead the project.
Recorded Presentation | 27 April 2023
#ParticipatoryProcess #Imaginaries #YouthAndChildren #Nigeria #Brazil #SouthKorea
