FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
Edmonton startup wâsikan kisewâtisiwin selected as a 2024 Solver Team by MIT Solve
Out of 2,200+ international applications, wâsikan kisewâtisiwin was one of 30 winning teams October 17, 2024 (amiskwacîwâskahikan | Edmonton) – wâsikan kisewâtisiwin has been selected as a 2024 Solver team by the renowned MIT Solve- an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Edmonton-based organization partnered with Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute) to develop two artificial intelligence tools with the goal of preventing further harm to First Peoples living in Canada. The first tool helps monitor hate speech and bias towards Indigenous Peoples on social media and the other provides users with factual information about Indigenous Peoples and corrects bias and racism detected in written materials.
“We knew we had a great idea, so it is extremely validating to be acknowledged and recognized by MIT Solve as one of 30 solutions from across the globe to be part of their nine-month support program,” said Shani Gwin, Founder and CEO of wâsikan kisewâtisiwin.
“Indigenous People must be involved in the development of artificial intelligence – it’s quickly becoming a critical piece of infrastructure, despite already being known to perpetuate harmful bias. It needs our perspective.”
wâsikan kisewâtisiwin received $10,000 from MIT Solve to scale impact and reach more lives. Additionally, the organization will begin a nine-month support program through MIT Solve and receive access to additional funding opportunities, resources, experts, and mentorship.
“Working with Shani and the wâsikan kisewâtisiwin team has been rewarding on many levels, “ said David Chan, Product Lead, Amii Industry Team. “To be able to share our AI expertise and work with Shani on such an impactful project is not only a values alignment
of AI for good and for all, but also an example of the powerful outcomes and limitless possibilities of AI applied through an intersectional lens.”
Founder and CEO, Shani Gwin was invited to New York City to pitch to an audience of 200+ philanthropists, global leaders, and investors during MIT’s Solve Challenge Finals, which took place at the beginning of the United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week on September 23, 2024. wâsikan kisewâtisiwin was the only team from Canada.
Learn more about wâsikan kisewâtisiwin and the other selected solutions of MIT Solve’s 2024 Global Challenges.
-30-
Media contact:
Brian Golightly
Media Relations Manager
pipikwan pêhtâkwan
brian@pipikwanpehtakwan.com
About wâsikan kisewâtisiwin:
wâsikan kisewâtisiwin’s vision is to create AI from a matriarchal & fair perspective to benefit humanity. First Peoples are centered in the development to ensure this critical piece of infrastructure is built without furthering harm to our communities. wâsikan kisewâtisiwin’s AI tools support the goal of tackling the rise of hate speech and misinformation about Indigenous Peoples with one tool focused on supporting social media interactions and another on correcting unconscious bias or racism in written material. These tools aim to take the emotional labour off of First Peoples who regularly take on the responsibility of educating Canadians about who they are, their traditional ways or the complex history between Indigenous Peoples and colonized governments/systems.
About Amii:
Amii is one of Canada’s three centres of AI excellence as part of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy. Amii partners with companies of all sizes, across industries, to drive innovation strategy and provide practical guidance and advice, corporate training and talent recruitment services.
