UNESCO and Microsoft Back Data Commons for Indigenous-Led AI
UNESCO, Microsoft and The GovLab have convened a dialogue in New York on how data commons can give Indigenous communities more control over how their languages, data and cultural knowledge are used in AI systems. The central message, according to UNESCO, is that communities must have a meaningful role in deciding how they are represented.
- UNESCO, Microsoft and The GovLab held a briefing on 22 September 2026 alongside the 81st UN General Assembly session in New York.
- Participants discussed data commons as a way for Indigenous communities to govern their data, languages and cultural knowledge in AI.
- UNESCO says Indigenous Peoples should be partners, knowledge holders and leaders, not only users or data sources.
- Work continues through the New Commons Incubator for Indigenous Languages and Cultures.
A briefing alongside the UN General Assembly
On 22 September 2026, alongside the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, UNESCO, Microsoft and The GovLab held a Foundation Briefing Luncheon titled Advancing Public Interest AI through Data Commons for Indigenous Languages and Cultures.
The event brought together Indigenous leaders and technologists, international organizations, civil societies, funders, researchers and industry representatives. According to UNESCO, participants looked at how Indigenous communities can exercise greater agency in AI development, from setting priorities for the use of their data to governing the technologies and sharing their benefits.
UNESCO says one message emerged clearly: Indigenous communities must have a meaningful role in determining how their data, languages and cultural knowledge are represented and used in AI systems. That means going beyond inclusion, so that communities can set priorities, make decisions and control the use of their knowledge.
What data commons are meant to do
UNESCO presents data commons as one approach to this goal. By establishing shared arrangements for managing and governing data, they can allow communities to define the conditions under which their data and knowledge are accessed and used. For Indigenous Peoples, the organization says, such arrangements need to reflect community priorities, cultural contexts and rights.
UNESCO also argues that data governance cannot be separated from questions of who makes decisions, who benefits from technological development and how Indigenous knowledge is protected and respected. The topic falls under its work on digital inclusion and responsible AI, which aims to build digital environments that respect linguistic and cultural diversity.
Guilherme Canela De Souza Godoi, Director of UNESCO's Division for Digital Inclusion and Policies and Digital Transformation, framed the idea in terms of public interest: "For UNESCO, public-interest AI is not defined only by technological capability. It is defined by who benefits, who participates, and whose rights and knowledge are respected." He added that Indigenous Peoples must be part of shaping these systems from the outset, "not simply as users or sources of data, but as partners, knowledge holders and leaders."
Support for Indigenous-led initiatives
The discussion in New York underscored that collaboration must be grounded in Indigenous leadership, according to UNESCO. Indigenous-led initiatives need sustained support to strengthen their capacities, resources and relationships.
The organization sees different roles for different partners. Foundations and other funders can provide financial support. Researchers, technology companies and international organizations can contribute expertise, infrastructure, networks and opportunities for collaboration. Such partnerships work best, UNESCO says, when they start from priorities defined by Indigenous communities and recognize their role in setting direction, making decisions and determining how outcomes are used and owned.
The New Commons Incubator and next steps
The work continues through the New Commons Incubator for Indigenous Languages and Cultures, which UNESCO describes as a framework for advancing community-led data governance. Through its engagement, UNESCO aims to help Indigenous communities strengthen their capacity to govern their data and to shape how their languages and cultural knowledge are used in the digital age.
Building on the New York talks, UNESCO says continued collaboration among Indigenous communities, funders, researchers, technology partners and international organizations will be important. The stated goal is a digital environment in which Indigenous languages and cultures can thrive, communities have greater control over their knowledge, and AI development serves the public interest.
The source does not announce funding amounts, timelines or new technical tools. For now, the event sets out principles and a framework for cooperation, with The GovLab publishing its own reflections on the meeting under the title Data Commons as Infrastructure for Indigenous-Led AI.
UNESCO (AI): Turning global interest into support for Indigenous-led AI
