An Urgent Message on Artificial Intelligence from the Kogui People

The risk that AI amplifies human ambition and dominance, rather than life-affirming values, is now a prominent ethical concern.

The Kogui people, indigenous inhabitants of Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, have issued a statement on artificial intelligence, emphasizing the importance of human thought and intention behind AI development. They view AI as a mirror that amplifies the values and intentions of its creators. They argue that AI cannot be separated from the thinking process that produces it, and if that thought is driven by ambition or dominance, the AI will reflect and amplify those traits. The Kogui highlight the limitations of current AI training data, which primarily consists of recorded human knowledge, contrasting it with their own ancestral knowledge passed down through generations of lived experience and direct teaching. They question whether scientists truly understand the origin of things or the order of nature, suggesting that a lack of this fundamental understanding will lead to flawed AI development.

The Kogui's perspective introduces a profound ethical framing for AI development: the technology is inherently a reflection of its creators' consciousness, purpose, and values. This challenges the technical focus on alignment and safety, suggesting that the root problem lies in human intent and understanding of natural order, not just algorithmic behavior. Their emphasis on lived experience and ancestral knowledge over data implies a potential critique of the current data-driven paradigm in AI training, hinting at fundamental knowledge gaps.

This statement signals a growing interdisciplinary dialogue, where indigenous wisdom traditions are critically examining advanced technologies. It suggests that future AI development may need to consider a broader spectrum of knowledge and values, potentially including those not easily quantifiable or expressible in digital formats. The Kogui's call to understand the 'law of origin' and the 'order of nature' poses a philosophical challenge to scientific and technological progress, urging a deeper consideration of wisdom alongside intelligence.