Luciana Benotti will participate as an organizer and facilitator in one of the pre-conference workshops at the 2025 edition of the Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR), which will take place in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from October 15 to 18.
The workshop, titled “Rethinking AI from the Ground Up: Building Sustainable AI Ecosystems for Local Communities,” will be held on October 15 during the afternoon session. This activity aims to rethink the development of artificial intelligence systems based on the needs and realities of local communities, particularly those that are often left out of large-scale global technological initiatives.
In a context of growing excitement over generative AI and ever-larger models, this workshop seeks to create space to question the assumption that “at-scale” solutions work equally well for all communities. With 88% of the global population living outside of Western countries, the risks of importing technological systems without contextual adaptation are both real and significant: from systems that fail to work properly to broader negative impacts on local social and economic fabrics.
What is the workshop about?
The session will bring together technologists, researchers, civil society organizations, and people working on developing digital technologies in and for their communities. Through real-world storytelling, participatory activities, and discussion exercises, the workshop will explore alternatives to the dominant big tech platform model. The goal is to collectively reflect on and share lessons learned around:
- How to design AI systems that are built with and for specific communities.
- The tensions between local values and global technological models.
- Possible pathways toward more inclusive and context-sensitive digital governance.
The broader aim of this workshop is to produce a collective document summarizing the experiences, challenges, and opportunities identified during the session. This will serve as a resource for researchers and activists working at the intersection of digital technologies and social justice.
About AoIR 2025
The Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR) is an international, interdisciplinary organization dedicated to the study of digital technologies and their impact on society. Every year, its conference brings together researchers, activists, and professionals from around the world to discuss the social, political, and cultural transformations shaped by digital technologies.
More information about the event and the full program here:
👉 https://aoir.org/aoir2025/
