Research summary: Decolonial AI: Decolonial Theory as Sociotechnical Foresight in Artificial Intelligence

Summary contributed by Alexandrine Royer, administrative coordinator at The Foundation for Genocide Education. Mini-summary: Although it may not always seem evident, the development of AI technologies is a part of the patterns of power that characterize our intellectual, political, economic and social worlds. Recognizing and identifying these patterns is essential to ensure that those at the bottom of society are not disproportionately affected by the adverse effects of technological innovation. To protect and prevent harm against vulnerable groups, the authors recommend adopting a decolonial critical approach in AI to gain better foresight and ethical judgement towards advances in the field. They offer three tactics that can lead to the creation of decolonial artificial intelligence: creating a technical practice for AI, seeking reverse tutelage and reverse pedagogies and the renewal of affective and political communities.