For Yunkaporta, the dangers of AI lie in its inability to understand the concept of home, and that is why we must ground it in kinship (Earth). “Home is at the heart of what it means to be human,” he says, referring to the interconnected and interdependent relationships between all aspects of life. From an Indigenous perspective, the algorithm’s inability to understand our kinship with all ecosystems renders it homeless, incapable, in its current form, to be something other than extractive because that’s all it’s programmed to understand.
To further demonstrate the limitations of AI in its current form, I created a thought experiment for a recent AI event: Gaia, an AI, is tasked with transitioning London to clean energy sources like solar and wind. However, Gaia does not understand what “home” means, the interconnected relationships and cultural significance that give a place meaning. Gaia could prioritize efficient and immediate energy needs, opting for quick fixes such as temporary energy sources that disrupt local communities or ecosystems. In doing so, Gaia neglects the long-term impacts on residents’ sense of belonging, community well-being, and environmental health, demonstrating its failure to grasp the deeper, interconnected concept of “home.”
“It’s all about this idea of home,” Yunkaporta says. “An AI won’t be able to replicate human communication or thought without understanding not only what we think of as home, or what home is for real beings in the world, flesh-and-blood beings, but it also has to have an authentic identity that is located in a home.”
As we explore the implications of AI, it becomes clear that without the transformative power of traditional knowledge and elemental wisdom, current systems risk reinforcing hierarchies that benefit those who support dominant narratives. The solution, Yunkaporta says, lies in the nature of the questions that need to be asked of those closest to the axis of power. “Look at everything, all your relationships and your data analysis. And your design and everything else,” he says. The lessons that nature—and its elements—can teach us must be at the heart of the new worlds we build.
The elemental approach of asking deep questions illustrates how ancestral and Indigenous protocols can guide us toward creating a more holistic, equitable, sustainable, and even potentially regenerative world. It emphasizes interdependence and the redistribution of power through collaborative design, incorporating Indigenous kinship protocols. Ether, air, fire, water, and earth become metaphors to foster holistic questioning, ensuring that technological innovations respect and enhance our relationships with all life forms.
Shaped by these basic principles, Yunkaporta’s ideas suggest that we should look to queer, nonbinary, and two-spirit communities to lead emerging systems, innovations, and technologies. Our innate inability to exist beyond binary spaces makes us ideal candidates to transcend the status quo with empathy and compassion. By embracing these Indigenous and ancestral approaches, we can create a more equitable and regenerative future; one in which AI can challenge us to consider more deeply and compassionately, “What kind of ancestor do you want to be??”
