Life with Machines Can AI Save Indigenous Languages? | Michael Running Wolf (Ep. 25)
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Jun 17, 2025 Michael Running Wolf, a Northern Cheyenne and Lakota technologist, uses AI to reclaim Indigenous languages. He discusses the alarming fact that every two weeks a language disappears, stressing the urgent need for preservation. His journey from a reservation to building VR classrooms illustrates the power of technology. Running Wolf emphasizes that AI not only aids in language revitalization but also benefits from Indigenous languages’ unique structures. He advocates for community sovereignty and ethical data practices in the tech industry.
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Hardship Sparked Tech Passion
- Michael grew up without electricity or running water on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, doing homework by kerosene lamp.
- He valued technology that just works, like his breakthrough kerosene lamp that didn't burn eyebrows off.
Languages Sustain Ecosystems
- Indigenous languages hold dense ecological knowledge that preserve biomes and species, helping maintain food systems.
- Losing these languages disrupts ecosystems and indigenous survival strategies.
Combine VR and AI for Language
- Use AI and VR to enable immersive, context-rich language learning with real-time feedback.
- Address both children and adults simultaneously to revitalize indigenous languages effectively.