Skip to content
Tech · Iqaluit

Inuktitut AI developers say language tools must stay community-owned

Northern developers are building translation tools trained with community input as global labs debate slowing AI.

·
Northern lights over Iqaluit, Nunavut
Northern lights over Iqaluit, Nunavut.

Developers across Inuit Nunangat are continuing community-led efforts to build Inuktitut-language AI tools, CBC North reported on Sunday.

Robin Anawak, an Iqaluit-based researcher developing a learning translation tool called Eskimo AI, said there is a lack of accurate Inuktitut representation online. "I think the potential for AI in helping more people learn Inuktitut and then being able to access the internet and digital media is enormous," he said.

Ali Mehdi, senior director of Heritage Lab in Nunavik, said communities were not given a choice about having their language data in mainstream systems, which can produce poor Inuktitut output. Heritage Lab has developed an Inuktitut translation tool created with community members to ensure accuracy.

Statistics Canada data show younger Inuit were less likely to speak Inuktitut very well in 2022 than in 2017, CBC reported.

From ARQS Sponsored

Readers looking to act on this kind of technology shift can start with Northline course catalogue, ARQS security, Live Intelligence and AI receptionist. In the ARQS Store, AICL 102 — Mathematical Foundations of Machine Learning, AICL 101 — Computational Logic & Python Control Flow, ARQS DataForge Local Studio are among the newest tools available.

From our partners

Partner content

Most read

  1. Court halts Vancouver Aquatic Centre demolition until after civic election
  2. TSX gains 319 points as energy and telecom stocks lead
  3. Poilievre takes his tariff-free auto pact pitch to Detroit
  4. 'I Play Rocky' and 'Ceremony' take VIFF audience awards
  5. BC Conservatives take five-point lead as leaders head into only TV debate

More from West Coast News

Shop ARQS

Sponsored

From ARQS

Partner
Crypto

For in-depth cryptocurrency news, visit ARQS Crypto Intelligence.

Visit Crypto Intelligence →
Local news

For in-depth local news on your city, visit Townline.

Find your town → Townline home

More from ARQS

Partner