Keynote
in
Affinity Event: Indigenous in AI/ML

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

Peter-Lucas K Jones

2024 Keynote
in
Affinity Event: Indigenous in AI/ML

Abstract

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.

Speaker

Peter-Lucas K Jones

Peter-Lucas (Te Aupōuri, Ngāi Takoto, Ngāti Kahu) is the Chief Executive Officer of Te Hiku Media and an experienced governor in the Māori media eco-system. He is currently the Chair of Te Whakaruruhau o ngā Reo Irirangi Māori, Deputy Chair of Māori Television and Deputy Chairman of Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri, and board member of Te Pūnaha Matatini, a Centre of Research Excellence for Complex Systems. As a trusted kaitiaki of Māori data, Peter-Lucas negotiates the responsibility of protecting iwi and Māori data while meeting the needs of funders and the expectations of iwi and hapū. Peter-Lucas has terrestrial and digital experience working with kaumātua and marae to record and provide access to te reo ā-iwi, tikanga ā-iwi, kōrero tuku iho and iwi history. This experience has seen the development of a Kaitiakitanga License for Te Hiku Media that provides a framework to guide the use of Māori data from a haukāinga perspective.

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