Ancient tongues, modern voices: AI for language and biocultural heritage

Indigenous languages and cultural traditions are intrinsically linked to the ecosystems they sustain. This interconnectedness means that linguistic diversity is a primary vehicle for the ecological knowledge required to manage and protect our natural world. Indigenous languages are becoming neglected, but as AI technologies become more widely available, there is a significant opportunity for these tools to support communities in safeguarding their biocultural heritage, the fundamental link between their language, their identity and the living landscapes they protect. ‘Ancient tongues, modern voices: AI for language and biocultural heritage’ looks at how new technologies, in particular AI, can be used to document minority languages, compile community-led archives and support new forms of respectful, accessible digital storytelling.

This session grounds the discussion in concrete examples of how technology can amplify local perspectives and preserve the traditional knowledge embedded in ancestral tongues. Participants will explore practical collaborations between Indigenous communities, cultural institutions, policymakers and technologists: from speech and text tools for low-resourced languages to AI-assisted curation of oral histories, rituals and environmental knowledge, while debating the standards needed to uphold Data Sovereignty against the ‘closed’ nature of global platforms. A central focus will be on how to embed standards and safeguards that uphold data sovereignty, free and informed consent, and genuine inclusion – ensuring that cultural heritage projects remain community-owned, not just raw material for distant models. The session invites anyone interested in AI, cultural and ecological preservation and ethics to imagine how Indigenous voices, often marginalised in the digital realm, can thrive on their own terms in tomorrow’s technological landscape.

This session is co-organised with Redes Chaco, a multi-stakeholder network bringing together more than 300 organisations working across the Gran Chaco Americano, a biome spanning parts of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil that is the world’s largest subtropical dry forest.