2026/04/03 by Bindi Bennett · 1 voice
Social Sciences · Computer Science · #Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights #Archaeology and Rock Art Studies #Data Visualization and Analytics
paper · doi:10.1080/14443058.2026.2653232
openalex publication_date 2026/04/03 · openalex created_date 2026/04/14 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/22
The creation of visual artefacts for First Nations Peoples, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, requires a nuanced approach that accurately reflects the multiple existing diverse identities and cultures across so-called Australia. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) programs, such as DALL-E, over the past five years, with their ability to generate visual depictions from text prompts, concerns about gaps, inaccuracies and misrepresentations for diverse populations have become increasingly prominent. This article highlights the challenges we faced when using AI to visually represent First Nations Peoples’ identities and cultural themes in the production of two project newsletters. Given AI’s growing influence in areas such media, education and technology, its ability to shape or twist cultural narratives is profound. Misrepresentations generated by AI can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and contribute to the ongoing erasure of Indigenous cultures. Central to this issue is the lack of First Nations voices in AI development and the ethics of Indigenous data sovereignty. Through an eight-step framework, we show how to maintain sovereignty over this knowledge within digital spaces, allowing First Nations Peoples to control their own stories, identities and visual representations.