Researchers from the University of Cambridge and partners worldwide have unveiled a study highlighting how artificial intelligence (AI) is forging a new global linguistic hierarchy, primarily benefitting a limited number of languages. This investigation assessed social, economic, and infrastructural conditions for 6,003 languages, revealing overwhelming inequalities in access to language AI technologies. The dominance of a few languages, such as English and Mandarin, exacerbates disparities at an alarming rate. To address this, the study introduces the Language AI Readiness Index (EQUATE), which identifies communities with untapped AI capability and offers a framework for equitable technology deployment. The analysis underscores that AI’s rapid growth does not equate to equitable access, reinforcing existing power structures instead of bridging linguistic divides. Future efforts must prioritize the development of inclusive datasets and community-led initiatives to ensure the next wave of AI innovation empowers all languages, fostering sustainability and diversity in language technology.
Source link
