AI Thinking as a Meaning-Centered Framework: Reimagining Language Technologies Through Community Agency
Jose F Quesada
TL;DR
This paper tackles the challenge of linguistic diversity preservation amid dominant foundation-model approaches by proposing AI Thinking, a meaning-centered framework that treats language technologies as co-created with communities. It outlines a tripartite framework—core principles, structural dimensions, and operational skills—and translates it into a practical five-layer technological ecosystem (knowledge representation, intelligence, interface, integration, preservation) with rigorous integration, validation, and governance mechanisms. The approach emphasizes cultural context, community agency, and knowledge integration to preserve meaning rather than merely processing data, aiming for sustainable, culturally authentic language technologies. The work offers theoretical foundations, concrete architectural layers, and methodological guidelines to enable meaningful co-creation and long-term preservation of linguistic heritage in the digital age.
Abstract
While language technologies have advanced significantly, current approaches fail to address the complex sociocultural dimensions of linguistic preservation. AI Thinking proposes a meaning-centered framework that would transform technological development from creating tools FOR communities to co-creating solutions WITH them. This approach recognizes that meaningful solutions emerge through the interplay of cultural understanding, community agency, and technological innovation. The proposal articulates a holistic methodology and a five-layer technological ecosystem where communities maintain control over their linguistic and cultural knowledge representation. This systematic integration of community needs, cultural preservation, and advanced capabilities could revolutionize how we approach linguistic diversity preservation in the digital age.