Protecting Indigenous Languages in the Age of AI | Peter-Lucas Jones at Vancouver AI

What happens when ancient languages meet machine learning?

In this powerful talk from the Vancouver AI Community, Peter-Lucas Jones (Te Aupōuri, Ngāi Takoto, Ngāti Kahu) invites us into a deeper conversation: not just about technology, but about responsibility, sovereignty, and the future of Indigenous knowledge systems.

Speaking from the intersections of Māori culture, language revitalization, and digital innovation, Peter-Lucas challenges the way AI systems are built — and asks whether we can create tools that serve communities, rather than extract from them.

This is not a hype piece about AI “saving” languages. It’s a grounded exploration of how Indigenous leaders are building their own technologies — on their own terms — to ensure that the voices of their ancestors survive and evolve into the future.

Themes explored in this talk include:

Language sovereignty in a digital age

Indigenous data governance and control

The limits of “big tech” approaches to culture

How AI can be used as a tool for revitalization, not erasure

The importance of cultural protocol and relational ethics in technology design

In an era where so much feels extractive, Peter-Lucas offers a blueprint for something different: technologies rooted in respect, stewardship, and long memory.

Whether you’re a technologist, community builder, language activist, or simply someone asking deeper questions about the future we’re building — this talk will leave you thinking long after the video ends.

About Peter-Lucas Jones
Peter-Lucas Jones is the CEO of Te Hiku Media, a Māori-owned and operated media organization leading the charge in Indigenous AI development. His work spans language revitalization, broadcasting, and Indigenous data sovereignty.

Recorded live at: Vancouver AI Community Meetup
Hosted by: Kris Krüg (Founder, Vancouver AI and BC+AI)

If this talk resonates, share it with someone who cares about the future of language, culture, and technology.

#IndigenousAI #LanguageRevitalization #DataSovereignty #VanAI