Jugaad: The Untranslatable Innovation Confounding AI and ML

This paper examines the concept of jugaad, which embodies a cultural approach to innovation in the face of resource scarcity, originating as a byproduct of such scarcity in the Indian subcontinent centuries ago. Specifically, this paper examines the uniquely untranslatable nature of the word, highlighting linguistic and cultural nuances that cause both traditional Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) approaches and more novel Natural Language Processing (NLP) approaches to fail to capture the true essence of the concept. In addition, this paper explores the ethical implications of how cultural concepts fit into the future of large models. This research not only sheds light on the complex interplay between language, culture, and innovation but also highlights the limitations of current computational linguistics models in capturing the essence of culturally entrenched concepts.