Situating Artificial Intelligence: Introducing Ethno-AI as a Framework for Culturally-Aware Modeling

This paper introduces Ethno-AI — a conceptual and methodological framework for culturally-aware artificial intelligence.Inspired by ethnomathematics and philosophy of science, the work reframes four core phases of the AI lifecycle: problem definition, data selection and structuring, mathematical modeling, interpretation and adoption. Ethno-AI emphasizes that data, logic, and models are never neutral — they embody cultural assumptions, ethical priorities, and epistemic boundaries.This framework calls for the integration of human sciences and local rationalities into AI design. The paper serves as both a theoretical contribution and a positioning manifesto, aiming to open a new field of research at the intersection of AI, culture, and epistemology.