The conversation surrounding technology often leans toward dystopian fears—algorithms perpetuating oppression, online disinformation campaigns threatening democracy, and concerns about societal collapse. Renowned digital anthropologist Payal Arora, a professor of Inclusive Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cultures at Utrecht University, is set to deliver the 2025 UMass Communication Annual Lecture challenging these disempowering narratives, advocating for the need to decolonize creativity, and rejecting the dominant tech imaginaries that have shaped AI development in the Global North. Instead, Arora will discuss a framework rooted in promising lessons from the Global South on designing inclusive tech futures.
The Communication Annual Lecture at UMass Amherst is a distinguished forum that hosts scholars from across the nation and around the globe, fostering meaningful discussions on contemporary social issues with the campus and the Western Massachusetts community. This year, the Global Technology for Social Justice Lab proudly nominated Professor Arora, who was selected as the featured speaker by faculty and PhD students from the Department of Communication.
Arora’s lecture, titled “Designing Inclusive Tech: Building Hopeful AI Futures with the Global Majority,” will showcase her groundbreaking work in digital anthropology and inclusive AI design. With over two decades of experience exploring user experiences with digital technologies in low-income communities of the Global South, she brings a critical global perspective to AI innovation and digital media studies.
Scheduled for Monday, March 31 in the COMM HUB, Arora’s talk draws on her extensive research and fieldwork in countries such as Brazil, India, and Bangladesh, particularly among marginalized youth. She will discuss practical strategies for creating tech systems that reflect the aspirations and needs of the majority world, rather than perpetuating existing inequalities.
Far from being overly optimistic, Arora’s approach serves as a well-reasoned counterpoint to the dominant narratives of fear and skepticism surrounding AI. By focusing on the aspirations and innovations emerging from the Global South, she offers a fresh perspective on how technology can be designed to serve all communities, not just the privileged few. This optimism, she argues, is not merely a perspective but a moral responsibility.