Engineering Management Case Studies

Indigenous communities worldwide face the challenge of preserving their languages and cultural identities amid globalization and technological advancement. AI and related technologies are emerging as powerful tools to address these challenges, driven by Indigenous engineers, educators, and advocates. This case study explores key initiatives, projects, and outcomes in the use of AI for Indigenous language and cultural preservation. Background: The Need for Cultural Preservation Indigenous languages are among the most endangered globally. With many languages spoken by only a handful of people, the urgency to preserve them is acute. For example, less than 0.005% of the tech workforce in the U.S. is Indigenous, and only 0.4% of computer science bachelor’s degrees are awarded to Indigenous individuals annually. These statistics highlight the critical need for Indigenous representation in technology to address community-specific challenges effectively. Efforts to integrate AI into cultural p...