Ask Me Anything-Dr Karaitiana on AI & Data Sovereignty

Toiere members gathered for a powerful AMA Session with Dr. Karaitiana Taiuru, focusing on the growing impact of AI and data sovereignty. Here’s what we learned.

Key Takeaways

• AI training is scarce in Aotearoa. Free resources from Google, Microsoft, AWS etc provide accessible starting points.
• AI present both risk and opportunity, especially in employment. While some jobs may be displaced, others will be created – particularly in programming, robotics and governance.
• Māori intellectual property is at risk. AI systems consume massive amounts of data, making tikanga, mātauranga and reo vulnerable to misuse.
• Now is the time to develop AI policies – especially around data security, responsible use, and long-term sovereignty goals
• Strong opportunity to indigenise – training with a Te Ao Māori lens.
• Importance of certifications – for job market competitiveness.

AI & Employment impact

• Up to 85 million jobs could be displaced by 2027 (WEF) also projected to create 97 million new roles.
• Manufacturing and labour-intensive sectors most at risk.
• Retraining now is essential, opportunities in programming e.g. Python, robotics, and systems thinking are key.
• Whānau, hapū, and iwi leaders are urged to prep their communities for workforce transitions.

Te Reo Māori and AI

• AI’s improving accuracy in te reo Māori translations and understanding.
• Concerns about AI’s access to and use of traditional knowledge.
• Potential for AI to develop a distinct “dialect” in te reo Māori.
• Opportunity to use AI for language preservation while being cautious about sharing sensitive cultural information.
• Potential for AI to develop a distinct

Data Sovereignty

• Once uploaded data is hard to control – especially with offshore platforms.
• Copyright law is not yet fit for purpose in the AI era.
• Māori businesses must protect IP, client data, and taonga tuku iho.
• NZ could explore creating sovereign AI infrastructure ($35 million estimated cost)

AI in Business

• Start with subscription-based AI tools for better data handling.
• Avoid sharing sensitive data with free or public AI tools.
• Human oversight is critical to avoid errors or AI “hallucinations”
• Focus on practical AI uses, time-saving content creation, automation.

Next steps for Māori Business

• Explore online tools and AI training at kete.ai
• Begin creating your business AI policy and data protection framework.
• Engage legal advice around data sharing and IP protection.
• Stay connected to national conversations around sovereign Māori AI.
• Support community learning through future workshops and sandboxes.
• Advocate for government agencies to improve data governance policies