Josephine Walker:
As AI changes the way the world gathers information, some critics say that it is perpetuating stereotypes and erasing cultural nuances for Indigenous groups and people of color. Most mainstream models are trained on the work of Western writers—particularly white men—and regularly mimic those values, writing styles, viewpoints, and biases. Some critics say the data grab is a new form of colonialism, where information gathering replaces Imperial-era land seizures while the AI companies—rather than a conquering nation—reap profits from marginalized groups. Data collection from these groups is often done without their consent or any verification that the information is accurate.