Discourse on the Intersection of ChatGPT and Māori Data Sovereignty
In the heart of New Zealand, conversations about the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in preserving and promoting the Māori language are gaining momentum. Sonny Ngatai, a prominent figure in these discussions, believes that te reo Māori is more than just the ability for AI to translate it—it's part of the identity of New Zealanders.
Ngatai expresses optimism that te reo Māori could survive AI, but he wants to see its widespread use, including in AI tools like ChatGPT. However, concerns have been raised about where the data for AI systems like ChatGPT comes from, leading to debates about the unauthorized use of sacred knowledge and culturally sensitive material.
ChatGPT, a generative AI product by OpenAI, responded that AI interference and use of te reo Māori could compromise the language. To prevent this, Ngatai, Ngapera Riley, and others advocate for Maori involvement, human oversight, and adherence to Māori Data Sovereignty principles.
These principles assert that Māori data—including language data—should be subject to Māori governance to support tribal sovereignty and aspirations. Initiatives like Te Mana Raraunga advocate for Māori control over such data in ways that are culturally appropriate and enable flourishing.
Riley, who works to democratize New Zealand data, warns against using ChatGPT as a primary source and emphasizes the need for human auditing. She stresses the importance of protecting Māori language data in AI to be consistent with Māori governance protocols.
Technological developments like Māori speech emotion recognition are increasingly designed with data sovereignty protections in place to ensure that Māori communities retain control and protection over their language data.
Dr Karaitiana Taiuru of Taiuru & Associates presented at the 2023 Gibbons Lecture Series and discussed how AI could be used to decolonize and empower Māori. The Te Mana Raraunga Māori Data Sovereignty Network also provides valuable information on data sovereignty and related aspects, including their charter document.
Data sovereignty is about ensuring individuals and communities have authority and control over their own data, including aspects such as collection, ownership, storage, and usage. If AI like ChatGPT produces a good quality of Māori, there is a risk that the language could shift from a traditional reo to a ChatGPT version, potentially leading to a loss of Māori sovereignty over the language.
Ngatai emphasizes the importance of protecting Māori intellectual property rights, specifically stories, narratives, and tikanga, from AI use. Ngapera Riley's company, Figure.NZ, shares visualizations of datasets and aims to help New Zealanders use data to thrive.
Keegan proposes a solution where AI could be isolated, trained by Māori, and controlled at an iwi level, allowing Māori to retain sovereignty and use it as a helpful tool. As the conversation around AI and te reo Māori continues, it's clear that striking a balance between progress and sovereignty will be crucial.
[1] Te Mana Raraunga Māori Data Sovereignty Network Charter [3] Ngapera Riley, N. (2022). Data sovereignty and the future of AI in Aotearoa New Zealand. In Proceedings of the 2022 ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (FAccT '22). ACM, New York, NY, USA, 1-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3494184.3532876 [5] Taiuru, K. (2023). AI for decolonization and empowerment: A Māori perspective. In Proceedings of the 2023 ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (FAccT '23). ACM, New York, NY, USA, 1-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3552474.3556866
[1] Sonny Ngatai advocates for Māori involvement and adherence to Maori Data Sovereignty principles in AI systems, such as ChatGPT, to preserve and promote the Māori language.
[2] Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and technology, like Māori speech emotion recognition, must be designed and governed with data sovereignty at their core to avoid the possible loss of Māori sovereignty over their language.
[3] Lifestyle, education, and self-development can greatly benefit from responsible AI use and initiatives that support Māori data sovereignty, ensuring cultural continuity and the flourishing of Māori communities. By adhering to data sovereignty principles and collaborating with Māori experts, AI can potentially become a helpful tool in promoting and preserving the Māori language in a culturally appropriate manner.
