Bart Barendregt, principal investigator of One Among Zeroes |0100|, also holds the UNESCO Chair in the Anthropology of Digital Diversity. This Chair explores how new, digital and emergent technologies, including AI, are shaped by and, in turn, shape diverse cultural, social, and ethical perspectives. Rooted in UNESCO’s mission for ethical, inclusive, and human-centered AI, the Chair engages in research, education, and outreach to highlight the diversity of digital experiences worldwide.
1. Ethical Debates on Emerging Technologies
The Chair investigates moral debates surrounding AI and digitalization, recognizing that technology is never neutral but shaped by cultural values. AI is often framed in global discussions through Western or corporate lenses, yet across the world, people interpret, challenge, and repurpose technology in diverse ways. This research fosters dialogue between designers, policymakers, and everyday users, making AI discussions more inclusive and representative.
2. Open and Sustainable Digital Alternatives
A second focus is exploring community-driven and culturally sensitive alternatives to dominant digital infrastructures. Much of today’s AI is proprietary and centralized, yet in the Global South, local adaptations—from ethical AI informed by religious values to open-source initiatives—offer alternative digital futures. The Chair seeks to highlight these underexplored models and collaborations.
3. Digital Technologies and Inclusive Education
The Chair also examines the role of digitalization in education, advocating for culturally sensitive approaches to AI literacy. Many digital tools are designed with Western assumptions, but education is deeply shaped by local knowledge systems and teaching styles. The Chair contributes to digital literacy programs that are inclusive, adaptive, and community-focused.
Bridging Anthropology and AI Ethics
The Anthropology of Digital Diversity offers a critical yet constructive perspective on AI and emerging technologies. While AI can reinforce inequalities, it also presents opportunities for more inclusive technological paths. By combining ethnographic and computational approaches, the Chair explores how people navigate AI’s ethical dilemmas in everyday life.
Aligned with UNESCO’s AI ethics mission, Barendregt advises on UNESCO’s AI Ethics Recommendation and collaborates with the Dutch UNESCO Committee on AI literacy initiatives. Through this work, the Chair not only studies digital diversity but also aims to shape the conversation—advocating for a more ethical, inclusive, and community-driven digital future.