An engineer from Mexico’s Mixtec indigenous community appeared before members of Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies to warn that native languages are being left out of the digital revolution. He argued that as more of daily life, information, and communication move online, languages that lack a strong digital presence risk fading into invisibility. “They want to erase us from the digital cloud,” he told lawmakers, framing the issue as a matter of cultural survival rather than just technology.
He urged Congress to back the development and use of artificial intelligence tools specifically designed to document, teach, and promote indigenous languages such as Mixtec, one of dozens of native tongues still spoken across Mexico. According to the engineer, AI could help create digital dictionaries, translation systems, and educational resources that keep these languages alive for new generations, who increasingly interact with technology, apps, and social media primarily in Spanish or English.
His appeal highlights a broader concern shared by indigenous communities in Mexico: that without deliberate investment in digital inclusion, centuries-old languages and the cultural knowledge they carry could disappear faster than ever in the internet age. He asked lawmakers to consider funding and policy support so that AI development includes indigenous voices from the start, rather than as an afterthought.
For the full story, read the original article on jornada.com.mx.
Source: "Nos quieren borrar de la nube digital”: ingeniero mixteco pide a diputados usar IA para preservar lenguas indígenas (jornada.com.mx). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: archer10 (Dennis), BY-SA 2.0 (via Openverse).