Big Tech Colon-AI-lism, 2026.09.15

This week, Alex and Emily are joined by Keoni Mahelona of Te Hiku Media to discuss Indigenous language technology. They discuss problems that arise when Big Tech tries to bring its "solutions" into this space, and best practices for research and development that center the expertise, cultural norms and goals of Indigenous communities.

Keoni Mahelona is the CTO of Te Hiku Media and a Native Hawaiian from the island of Kaua'i. He's a driving force behind the development of sovereign digital technologies that aim to protect and promote Indigenous languages, knowledge, culture, and now democracy.

References:

• Microsoft/IDB paper: "The Performance of Artificial Intelligence in the Use of Indigenous American Languages"

Also referenced:

• Kaitiakitanga License
• Joanna Radin paper on Indigenous data collection

Fresh AI Hell:

• "Apple Watch's new always-on don't-call-it-transcription feature"
• Nevada County prosecutors use "AI" and insert errors into criminal cases
• UW Grand Rounds: "If AI Can Write the Note, Who Does the Thinking?"
• The "Pro-Human Assembly"

Check out future streams on Twitch. Meanwhile, send us any AI Hell you see.

Find our book The AI Con here, and MAIHT3k merch here.

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Emily

• Bluesky: emilymbender.bsky.social
• Mastodon: dair-community.social/@EmilyMBender

Alex

• Bluesky: alexhanna.bsky.social
• Mastodon: dair-community.social/@alex
• Twitter: @alexhanna

Music by Toby Menon.
Artwork by Naomi Pleasure-Park. 
Production by Ozzy Llinas Goodman.