Human prejudice stretches back millennia, and the seeds of racism and bias that we sowed long ago have now taken root and flourished within artificial intelligence. Bias existed long before machine learning algorithms emerged; whenever society invents a new technology, it inherits the prejudices and discrimination of earlier eras. In the nineteenth century, redlining maps dictated who could receive loans—systematically denying Black Americans access to mortgages, insurance, and other essential financial services. Today’s credit-scoring algorithms still mirror those same exclusions. As AI extends into recruitment, administration, medicine, and the media, alarm bells are sounding: if we do not imbue our machines with ethical values, they will merely magnify our deepest biases. Continue reading As We Code, So We Reap – by Debanjan Borthakur →
I didn’t take it seriously when a friend in the internet security business told me that AI is reshaping the world and our future. Surely that was an exaggeration. Or so I thought until I was recruited to speak about intercultural leadership in the ‘Age of AI’ during a 3-day virtual symposium for SIETAR (Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research). It was an honor, but also a vital opportunity to learn about AI from researchers and educators around the globe.
ADR (Deborah Levine): Papa Balla, thank you for joining us. You’ve worn many hats in the AI and intercultural world , as the creator of SIETAR AI, the promoter of the Intercultural AI Framework, and a lead contributor to the EU ACT in GPAI. Could you start by telling us what inspired the creation of the Virtual SIETAR AI Symposium?
Papa Balla Ndong: Thank you for having me. The Virtual SIETAR AI Symposium was born from a sense of urgency to ensure that intercultural perspectives are not an afterthought in the AI space, but a foundation. AI is shaping how we work, communicate, and understand the world. Yet, without cultural sensitivity and ethical alignment, it risks deepening global inequities. The symposium is a space where engineers, educators, policymakers, and cultural practitioners can co-create a more inclusive and responsible AI future.
ADR: How does the Intercultural AI Framework inform the structure or strategy of the Symposium?
Ndong: The Framework is the backbone. It’s not just a theory , it’s a methodology that centers on three pillars: intercultural sensitivity, iterative dialogue, and ethical adaptability. Each session in the symposium maps to one of these, whether we’re discussing dataset bias, AI ethics across borders, or the human element in machine learning. We’re not just talking about inclusion; we’re practicing it through multilingual panels, cross-regional collaboration, and time zone-aware scheduling.
ADR: SIETAR AI is still quite new. What role does it play in this initiative?
Ndong: SIETAR AI is our think-and-do tank. It connects interculturalists who may never have imagined themselves working with AI. Through this platform, we’ve trained educators on AI literacy, advised on ethical AI curricula, and collaborated with tech developers to humanize AI systems. For the Symposium, SIETAR AI serves as the bridge between the intercultural field and the technological ecosystem.
ADR: You were also selected as a lead contributor for the EU ACT within GPAI. How has that shaped your perspective on global AI governance?
Ndong: Immensely. Being part of GPAI’s EU ACT group means engaging in the practical drafting of codes of conduct and frameworks that could shape legislation. What I bring to the table, and advocate for — is the recognition of cultural plurality. We must understand that a one-size-fits-all approach to AI ethics won’t work. African values, Asian philosophies, Indigenous epistemologies — they all matter. The Symposium reflects this ethos by offering a platform for those voices to be heard and integrated into AI norms.
ADR: This all sounds very ambitious. What are the main challenges you’ve faced in organizing the Symposium?
Ndong: Time and trust. Coordinating across continents is a logistical puzzle. But even more, gaining the trust of communities who’ve been excluded from tech dialogues takes time. We’re saying: “Your voice is not only valid — it’s vital.” That shift doesn’t happen overnight. We’re learning to listen deeply and build long-term partnerships, not just events.
ADR: Who are some of the key collaborators or participants in this year’s edition?
Ndong: We’re bringing together UNESCO experts on education and technology, grassroots AI developers from Africa and Latin America, European policymakers, and even artists and poets. AI isn’t just technical — it’s deeply cultural and emotional.
ADR: And what would success look like for you, after the Symposium ends?
Ndong: Success is a seed. If someone leaves the symposium with a new partnership, a project idea, or simply the sense that they belong in the AI conversation — then we’ve done our job. We want the Intercultural AI Framework to live beyond documents and symposiums. It must become a living practice.
ADR: Finally, for our readers who might want to get involved, how can they connect?
Ndong: We’re open. Anyone can join the mailing list of SIETAR AI, attend the symposium (many sessions are free), or contribute to our collaborative Intercultural AI Framework. This is a global dialogue, and everyone has a seat at the table.
ADR: Thank you, Papa Balla. Your work is a reminder that technology without culture is incomplete — and that the future of AI must be both human and humane.
Ndong: Thank you — and may we build that future, together.
Note: Deborah will give a presentation on Intercultural Leadership in the Age of AI for the Symposium on Friday, April 11.
As ignoring technology is no longer an option in the workplace, various fields and businesses are leveraging digital transformation for diversity, innovation, and empowerment.
A previous post illustrates how the online registration software company Regpack was able to build a diverse and inclusive workplace with the help of technology. The company used digital tools to promote creativity and collaboration, while also embracing remote work opportunities to accommodate unique needs, especially among tech professionals of color.
Propelling Sustainable Development in the Commonwealth Debate
The 8th Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development held in London recently shed light on the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in accelerating the progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The motion under discussion, ‘Artificial Intelligence is the answer to accelerating the power of sport to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,’ sparked a lively debate among experts in the field. Ultimately, the team advocating for the ethical use of AI in sports emerged victorious, emphasizing the importance of leveraging technology within established frameworks.
The debate, which coincided with the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on April 6th, served as an important platform to explore innovative strategies to harness the power of AI in sports for sustainable development. Rohn Malhotra, the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Sports TechX and a key member of the winning team, highlighted the opportunities presented by technology to propel progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. His remarks underscored the transformative potential of AI when employed ethically and strategically in the realm of sports.
Navigating Machines and Race: Shaping Cognitive Diversity and Innovation
We are at the threshold of a new era where diversity, equity, and inclusion will leap beyond biology into an interaction with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics.We are at a stage where robots mimic human motions, AI voices converse and learn, and technology pushes the boundaries of our understanding.We are witnessing the breakthroughs of innovation advances: quantum computing redefines reality, genetic engineering rewrites the code of life, and self-driving cars reimagine mobility.But it is the cognitive diversity introduced by AI and robotics that truly compels us to redefine our concept of “different.”
Today the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and economic growth is the headlines of news, and social media all over the world. As the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusive Growth at Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, I’m keenly aware of the challenges facing historically marginalized small businesses in our city. Our organization is committed to ensuring that all businesses can be productive and profitable. That’s why I’m excited about the potential for AI to stimulate economic growth by helping businesses thrive.
In the 20th century, corporations and state enterprises perfected a “free trade” sleight of hand for extracting resources and cheap labor globally. Today, as sources of “cheap labor” become less profitable, artificial intelligence (AI) is wielded as a tool for further exploiting American labor.
When automated manufacturing first showed up in the 60s, the “pundits” (then called eggheads) worried about automation shortening the workweek. They argued that the increase in leisure would destroy the American work ethic. Today, automation’s potential for delivering the paradise of a 20-hour workweek has been largely forgotten, even though productivity per worker has rocketed off the charts. Today most people feel over-worked, and leisurely lifestyles remain the province of the rich.
Technological revolutions always transform the workplace, especially the job skills and talents required to perform.
By 2025, about 40% of today’s skills will at least change, if not be made obsolete and replaced by new skills. On average, in some 60% of jobs, at least a 30% of their activities can be automated.
Hence, most jobs will change or be replaced, and more people will need to work alongside technology. Digital technology also changes how and where work takes place.
We are at the threshold of a new era where diversity, equity, and inclusion will leap beyond biology into an interaction with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics.