AI Thinking as a Meaning-Centered Framework: Reimagining Language Technologies Through Community Agency

TL;DR

This paper proposes a meaning-centered AI framework that emphasizes community agency and cultural preservation, aiming to transform language technology development into a collaborative process with communities.

Contribution

It introduces a holistic methodology and a five-layer ecosystem for community-controlled linguistic and cultural knowledge representation.

Findings

Framework promotes community-led linguistic preservation

Systematic integration of cultural needs and technology

Potential to revolutionize digital linguistic diversity preservation

Abstract

While language technologies have advanced significantly, current approaches fail to address the complex sociocultural dimensions of linguistic preservation. AI Thinking proposes a meaning-centered framework that would transform technological development from creating tools FOR communities to co-creating solutions WITH them. This approach recognizes that meaningful solutions emerge through the interplay of cultural understanding, community agency, and technological innovation. The proposal articulates a holistic methodology and a five-layer technological ecosystem where communities maintain control over their linguistic and cultural knowledge representation. This systematic integration of community needs, cultural preservation, and advanced capabilities could revolutionize how we approach linguistic diversity preservation in the digital age.