BRAID Researchers Response to the Call for input for EMRTD study: Artificial Intelligence, Cultural Rights, and the Right to Development

The Bridging Responsible AI Divides (BRAID) fellows have jointly responded to the call for input by the UN Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development. Their submission, written by Paula Westenberger, Clementine Collett, Caterina Moruzzi, Martin Parker, and Alex Taylor, examines how AI intersects with cultural rights and the right to development. Looking beyond the imperatives of current commercially dominant generative AI products, the response tracks the implications that a range of AI systems have for different stakeholder groups, including the creative, cultural heritage and research sectors, the public, supply-chain workers, and local communities. The authors outline several benefits that can be derived from broadening access to advanced technologies and enabling wider participation in contemporary cultural and economic life. However, with insufficient regulation an uneven distribution of infrastructure, skills and resources, future AI development risks engendering new forms of cultural hegemony and homogenisation, as well as the erosion of cultural sovereignty, linguistic diversity and potential cognitive decline. Targeted effort is needed to fund and incentivise more inclusive and equitable approaches to AI development, policy and regulation to ensure these technologies advance cultural rights and the right to development.