Decolonial AI: Decolonial Theory as Sociotechnical Foresight in Artificial Intelligence
Shakir Mohamed Marie-Therese Png William Isaac
Abstract
This paper explores the important role of critical science, and in particular of post-colonial and decolonial theories, in understanding and shaping the ongoing advances in artificial intelligence. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is viewed as amongst the technological advances that will reshape modern societies and their relations. Whilst the design and deployment of systems that continually adapt holds the promise of far-reaching positive change, they simultaneously pose significant risks, especially to already vulnerable peoples. Values and power are central to this discussion. Decolonial theories use historical hindsight to explain patterns of power that shape our intellectual, political, economic, and social world. By embedding a decolonial critical approach within its technical practice, AI communities can develop foresight and tactics that can better align research and technology development with established ethical principles, centring vulnerable peoples who continue to bear the brunt of negative impacts of innovation and scientific progress. We highlight problematic applications that are instances of coloniality, and using a decolonial lens, submit three tactics that can form
中文速览
人工智能（AI）技术在带来便利的同时，也在悄悄延续着殖民时代遗留下来的权力不平等——弱势群体往往首当其冲地承受算法偏见与数据剥削的伤害。这篇文章借助"去殖民理论"（decolonial theory）这一批判性社会科学框架，系统梳理了AI开发与部署中隐藏的殖民性（coloniality），包括种族歧视性算法、数字数据提取与监控等具体案例。在此基础上，作者提出三项战术性应对策略：将批判性反思嵌入AI技术实践、向受影响社区"反向学习"以打破单向知识输出、以及重建兼顾情感联结与政治参与的多元社区。这项研究的重要意义在于，它将历史与社会批判视角引入AI伦理讨论，呼吁研究者和从业者超越技术修补式的"去偏见"方案，从根本上重塑知识生产与技术开发中的权力结构，让AI真正服务于所有人的福祉与公正。
原文 arXiv:2007.04068;中英对照 + 大白话阅读 https://aha.fim.ai/paper/2007.04068v1