AI for Community: Preserving Culture and Tradition

AI for Community begins with a simple truth: artificial intelligence is now part of the evolution of human life. The question is not whether we use it, but how we shape it. This book explores how AI can preserve cultural heritage, strengthen human agency, and deepen cultural understanding through community-driven design.

The concept of Cultural AI was first shared on the global stage at the AI for Good Summit in Geneva in 2019, where technologists and storytellers gathered to imagine a future where machines could learn from ancestral wisdom. From NVIDIA’s collaboration with Te Hiku Media to protect the Māori language to UNESCO’s global initiatives in cultural preservation, the book shows how Cultural AI can serve as a bridge between generations.

Authored by a multigenerational, multicultural team, it highlights grounded, human-centered projects shaped by lived experience. These include the Indigenous Knowledge Graph; Howard University’s Project Elevate Black Voices, developed with Google; and Laleh AI, which preserves and extends the knowledge of the late Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar, a pioneering thinker whose work in psychology, spirituality, and translation continues to echo across time.

This book interweaves Community Voices sections between chapters, featuring interviews that explore the role and implementation of AI in new arenas. Each chapter is also supported by online resources, accessible as podcasts, videos, and articles that provide multimedia ways to deepen understanding of culturally aware AI.

AI for Community highlights how community-driven language preservation, storytelling, and design can empower cultures and protect their heritage. It is a vital resource for those seeking to create AI that respects and uplifts communities.

Iran Davar Ardalan, is an AI Strategist, Senior at Booz Allen, where she contributes to AI research in the civil sector. Formerly the Founder of TulipAI, Ardalan is known for her expertise in Responsible AI, merging AI tools with creative content generation, developing AI-driven solutions such as custom GPTs and virtual assistants. Her career includes leadership roles at National Geographic, NPR News, and the White House Presidential Innovation Fellowship program, where she championed data and AI and health initiatives. Ardalan’s research in cultural intelligence, which focuses on AI’s role in preserving culture, nature, history, and wisdom, was featured in The New York Times in March 2022.

Amir Banifatemi is an accomplished technology executive and strategist with over 25 years of experience in AI and emerging technology ventures. As Chief Innovation Officer at XPRIZE and co-founder of the AI for Good Global Summit, Banifatemi has driven human-centered AI advancement. His work with the AI Commons and the Global Partnership on AI’s Responsible AI group reflects his dedication to promoting AI as a tool for public empowerment.

Fernando Gonzalez is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Computing and Software Engineering at Florida Gulf Coast University. His background is in the area of automation, starting with the intelligent control of automated systems such as manufacturing systems and the U.S. electric power grid to the automation of software tasks through the use of intelligent agents for the Semantic Web. His work in the U.S. Department of Energy and various academic institutions underscores his commitment to advancing AI in ways that benefit society.

Myles Ingram is the founder and CEO of MylesAI Consulting, specializing in developing conversational agents for clients across multiple industries. Holding a Bachelor’s in Biophysics from Harvard University and a Master’s in Data Science from Columbia University, he advocates for the ethical implementation of AI technologies. While at Harvard, he was particularly interested in classics and Latin--the subjects that earned him acceptance into the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program during high school. Before founding his company, Myles worked at Columbia University Medical Center, publishing AI models for cancer treatment and public health. He also advises AI-based startups in the academic research sector and presented his research at global conferences like the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.

Reza Moradinezhad is a Computer Science Assistant Teaching Professor at Drexel University College of Computing and Informatics and former AI Scientist at TulipAI. His research focuses on designing trustworthy and effective interaction techniques for Human-AI collaboration, particularly with Embodied Virtual Agents (EVAs). Recognized for his contributions to AI research, Moradinezhad’s work spans collaborations with institutions like MIT Media Lab and Harvard University.

Lucretia Williams is a senior research scientist at Howard University’s Human-Centered AI Institute. Her work focuses on the lived experiences of underrepresented communities, examining how emerging technologies can improve their access to systems that traditionally overlook their needs. Specializing in designing and evaluating culturally responsive health technologies for underrepresented communities, Williams’ research spans international borders. She is one of the first Black women to receive a PhD in Informatics from the University of California, Irvine and is a co-founder of an AI-based startup.