Vice-Chancellor of North Eastern Hill University Professor Prabha Sankar Shukla underscored AI’s potential as a formidable ally in the preservation of cultural heritage at the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) programme held in London on May 15.
He delivered an insightful presentation on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in representing and protecting geographical indications (GIs) pertaining to language, arts, and agriculture during the ACU programme, stated a release.
He elaborated on how AI-powered solutions, such as speech recognition and natural language processing can transcribe and interpret recordings of indigenous languages, thereby facilitating their revival through educational apps and e-dictionaries, which are vital for teaching native or endangered languages to future generations, it stated.
Shukla also illustrated the application of machine learning models in analysing multimedia datasets to uncover cultural elements, it said. He maintained that these AI-driven models can significantly enhance cultural tourism apps, educational curricula, and UNESCO cultural heritage projects, fostering a deeper appreciation of cultural diversity.
Highlighting the unique geographical features of northeastern India, he referenced notable GIs such as Muga silk from Assam, Tree Tomato from Nagaland, Khasi Mandarin from Meghalaya, and Naga Chilli and advocated for the use of AI and blockchain technologies to trace and verify these GI items to ensure authenticity, build market trust, enhance monetary value, optimize consumer behaviour, predict market trends and increase demand for the products through personalized advertising, it added.
He also discussed how AI can facilitate farmers and artisans with precision farming techniques, predictive analysis, and monitoring systems for weather patterns, soil health, and crop health ensure improved productivity and profitability, it noted.
He further addressed the importance of AI in monitoring and enforcing intellectual property rights by detecting counterfeit GI products and highlighted the role of virtual classrooms and online workshops in providing specific training for producers to help them compete globally, it added. He also spoke on AI’s contribution to conserving agricultural biodiversity as well as in accelerating genome analysis and mapping indigenous breeds of crops and livestock, crucial for food security and preserving genetic diversity, it stated.
Shukla further emphasized the significance of collaboration among universities within the ACU, which comprises over 500 institutions stating that it facilitates research, curriculum enrichment and addresses global challenges through multidisciplinary expertise. He praised ACU programs such as the Commonwealth Climate Resilience Network and the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network for their role in fostering cross-border collaboration among scientists and academics, it stated.
Shukla concluded by reinforcing the ACU’s commitment to strengthening higher education through quality assurance reviews, governance and educational standard evaluations, and the adoption of best practices, it stated. He asserted that these initiatives aim to create a diverse and adaptable global academic society, elevating higher education standards and promoting heritage preservation, it added.
