AIF Insights No. 28 (2025) | AI as Both a Vehicle of Epistemic Imperialism and a Tool of Epistemic Emancipation

AIF Insights No. 28 (2025) | AI as Both a Vehicle of Epistemic Imperialism and a Tool of Epistemic Emancipation

The article explores the dual nature of artificial intelligence (AI) as both a vehicle of epistemic imperialism and a tool for epistemic emancipation. While AI systems, especially large language models, are predominantly shaped by Western intellectual traditions, reinforcing epistemic hierarchies and perpetuating data colonialism, they also offer significant opportunities for amplifying marginalized voices and recontextualizing non-Western knowledge systems. The paper highlights the challenges posed by epistemic imperialism, where AI technologies predominantly reflect Western ideologies and ethical frameworks, often sidelining other cultural and intellectual traditions. At the same time, it underscores AI’s potential for epistemic emancipation, enabling scholars from the Global South and non-Western cultures to engage more fully in global conversations. The article advocates for a critical, inclusive approach to AI development that integrates diverse epistemologies, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary design, philosophical inquiry, and pluralistic governance frameworks. It calls for the inclusion of alternative ethical perspectives, such as Buddhist ethics and African Ubuntu, in the development of AI systems to foster a more equitable and culturally inclusive digital future.