What I Learned Driving Around My Aunties - The Story of te reo Māori and AI

TKTe Reo Irirangi o Te Hiku o Te Ika (Te Hiku Media) began as an iwi (tribal) radio broadcaster based in Kaitāia, Aotearoa New Zealand over 30 years ago. Now, the entity is recognised internationally as a leader in AI development for Indigenous languages and has developed a suite of Māori language voice technologies that can enhance the learning and use of the Māori language in the digital world.

Peter-Lucas Jones (Te Aupōuri, Ngāi Takoto, Ngāti Kahu), CEO of Te Hiku Media, is dedicated to preserving and revitalising the Māori language by using AI technology while safeguarding Māori data from exploitation. He is a kaitiaki (guardian) of iwi radio data, balancing the protection of cultural knowledge with the development of natural language processing tools for Māori. His contributions to AI and language preservation earned him recognition on the TIME100 AI list in 2024.

One of Peter-Lucas’ greatest roles has been as a driver for the many “aunties”. From these long drives between hui (gatherings) they attended, he learned the fundamentals of tikanga and navigating new and challenging environments. Peter-Lucas will discuss Te Hiku Media’s journey and how these lessons are being applied. From the corpus and data collecting and curating to creating high-quality Māori language voice technologies and the importance of Indigenous sovereignty over data and technology, the Aunties continue to have their say.