ΑΠΟαποικιοΠΟΙΗΣΗ: Decolonising Cypriot AI through poetry
Abstract: ΑΠΟαποικιοΠΟΙΗΣΗ (APOapikioPIISI), a word-play between the Greek words “decolonisation” (αποαποικιοποίηση) and “poetry” (ποίηση), is an artistic investigation on the topics of colonialism/decolonisation in Cyprus, in both historical and digital context. It is concerned with the compilation of a community-created corpus of written Cypriot Greek (CyGr), and the subsequent publication of a poetry collection, through the collaboration of 9 writers with a custom-trained Natural Language Processing (NLP) AI model, GPT-2. This presentation will provide an overview of the project’s process, challenges, and results, from consenting data collection practices, to co-authoring poetry with the CyGr NLP model. An important challenge was that CyGr is a non-standard language variety with no officially codified writing system and with limited language resources; to reduce “noise” in our data, we had to homogenise the orthography of the created corpus. Another challenge was the ethical dilemma of whether or not to allow open access to the corpus of a language variety that is globally spoken by a small population (therefore, not profitable) and that has been stigmatised by hegemonic narratives. The project aims to contribute to the de-stigmatisation of CyGr and the spreading of a more systematic homogeneous way of spelling. It also aims to provide technological agency to an island on the peripheries of the global AI infrastructure, where the legacies of colonialism are still evident. While Cyprus is currently at the early stages of adopting AI technologies, ΑΠΟαποικιοΠΟΙΗΣΗ attempts to sow the first seeds towards a framework of what a decolonised Cypriot AI could look like from a local perspective, and open a dialogue about the role and influence of AI in our lives. It also provides an opportunity for CyGr speakers to interact with technology in the language variety they use in their daily lives.
Author bios: Alexia Achilleos is an artist, with a background in fine art, archaeology and cultural studies. She is currently a PhD Fellow at CYENS - Centre of Excellence, undertaking artistic research on colonialism and AI, as well as a Research Associate at the Media Art & Design Research Lab (MADLab) at Cyprus University of Technology. Alexia is interested in the social, cultural, and political issues that impact narrative and power dynamics. By investigating data and utilising machine learning processes, often in a historical context, she aims to re-examine such issues found within history and society, but also within AI technology itself, particularly challenging the idea of technology as universal and objective. Her work has been exhibited at institutions and conferences such as NeMe Arts Centre, World Intellectual Property Organisation, Forking room/Post Territory Ujeongguk and NeurIPS.
Spyros Armostis is a Lecturer in Linguistics at the Department of English Studies, University of Cyprus. He holds an MPhil and PhD in Linguistics(Phonetics) from the University of Cambridge and a BA in Classics from the University of Cyprus. His publications lie mainly in the fields of phonetics, phonology, variational sociolinguistics, and clinical linguistics. His research activities have also expanded to other areas, such as grapholinguistics, language documentation and revitalisation and second language acquisition. Focal points of his work have been the study of Cypriot Greek and Cypriot Arabic as well as of other varieties, such as Standard Modern Greek, Pontic Greek, English, and French. Finally, he is the Coordinator of the Cy[Φ] Lab (Cyprus PhoneticsLaboratory), Department of English Studies, University of Cyprus.
The NGO “Ipogia Skini”, began its activity in 2011 with nomadic type of cultural activities until 2014, when it found shelter in a rural space in the centre of Limassol. This space is called Synergeio and it serves as a basis for creating as well as producing the cultural projects of the NGO. Since its establishment, Synergeio has hosted all the theatre productions of the NGO Ipogeia Skini and its Performing Arts Festival “Sinaxis” for the past four years. Beyond its own Productions, Synergeio provides shelter to local and international artists/art groups who have a vision to create beyond the given structures, to research and experiment with new ideas and artistic trends. In addition, Synergeio is today a meeting point in the city centre. A space which is open to citizens’ initiatives for cultural and social action that promotes a form of art that evolves from solidarity as well as through the reflection of everyday life.
Recorded Presentation | 26 April 2023
#NLP #DecolonialApproaches #ArchivesAndMuseums #Imaginaries #Greece #Cyprus
