Taiwan won the 2024 WBSC Premier12 Baseball Tournament, with many Indigenous players, particularly from the Amis tribe (阿美族), contributing to its victory. However, while Taiwan’s mainstream media often highlights Indigenous communities in sports, entertainment, or international recognition, their perspectives remain largely absent in policymaking and technological development.
In a recent op-ed for UDN Global, DSET overseas research fellow Tu Yun-Pu analyzes how Canada actively incorporates Indigenous perspectives in AI policy to ensure their voices are acknowledged in national development. Although Indigenous peoples make up only 5% of Canada’s population, the government has implemented policies to integrate Indigenous knowledge into AI governance. The Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, launched in 2022, aims to foster AI development while considering Indigenous worldviews. This initiative, led by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), offers free bilingual learning resources to AI policymakers, industry professionals, and the public.
Tu highlights that Canada believes AI development should go beyond efficiency and economic benefits to include cultural sensitivity and community well-being. AI scholars note that most AI systems are designed based on Western individualistic values, overlooking concepts like trust, care, and community. To address this, CIFAR collaborates with Indigenous experts to develop programs that educate AI professionals on Indigenous history and perspectives, helping mitigate bias and potential risks during the AI development phase.
The Pan-Canadian AI Strategy focuses on commercialization, standards, talent, and research, while the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) establishes a risk-based AI regulatory framework that upholds human rights, privacy, and fairness. Taiwan has also taken steps to regulate AI, with initiatives such as the AI Basic Law draft and the Guidelines for Using Generative AI. However, whether Taiwan’s AI policies can incorporate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives, as Canada has done, remains an open question.
In April 2025, Taiwan and Canada will sign the Science and Technology Innovation Agreement (STIA) to collaborate on AI, semiconductors, biotechnology, and other fields. Tu suggests that Taiwan can learn from Canada’s approach—not only prioritizing technological innovation and regulation but also ensuring the inclusion of Indigenous voices, fostering a more ethical and inclusive AI ecosystem.