The research project examines the theoretical and literary foundations of decolonization to critically engage with how artificial intelligence (AI) systems embed and reproduce historical power structures. By grounding the analysis in the complexity and importance of decolonial thought, the study identifies contexts in which AI may perpetuate dominant ideas and logics – through data collection, infrastructure management, AI-assisted decision-making, and technology transfer – by reinforcing historical biases, unequal power dynamics, and exploitative practices that sustain global inequities.
The study identifies socio-technical constructions shaped by distinct local and cultural values. It explores how these values become embedded in AI systems and how they “travel” across different contexts, carrying not only technical models but also social frameworks.
Combining a quantitative perspective – examining specific technical features of AI systems that contribute to discriminatory and unfair logics – with a qualitative approach, the study situates these technologies within their cultural contexts and design objectives. Ultimately, by uncovering these mechanisms, the research will use empirical case studies to propose alternative paradigms for designing, modeling, and deploying AI systems.
Organized by Diletta Huyskes, Maria Sapignoli, Giuseppe Primiero
Organized by Diletta Huyskes, Maria Sapignoli, Giuseppe Primiero Digital technologies and AI systems often amplify structural discrimination and perpetuate colonial logics through biased data, unequal power dynamics, and exploitative practices. These dynamics reinforce...
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