At Caribbean Tech Week, SACD sparks conversation on AI and identity

The Society for the Advancement of the Caribbean Diaspora (SACD) marked Silicon Caribe’s 19th anniversary and the inaugural Caribbean Tech Week with a focused discussion on artificial intelligence and identity during an event held on February 25.

Titled “AI and Our Caribbean Heritage and Personal Identity,” the session formed part of the weeklong activities from February 23–28, 2026, bringing together voices from technology, law and culture to examine how emerging technologies are shaping — and sometimes challenging — Caribbean narratives.

The panel featured Thuso Sehlotho, hub leader of Young AI Leaders LS Hub; Karen N. Wilson-Robinson, Esq., of Wilson & Brown, P.L.L.C.; Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee, senior fellow in Governance Studies and director of the Center for Technology Innovation; and Dr. Ezra S. Engling, a multilingual instructor and Caribbean cultural archivist.

Sehlotho, a multi-award-winning technologist with a master’s degree in artificial intelligence from Dublin City University, spoke about the growing importance of AI literacy, particularly among young people. With six years of experience as a consultant and educator, he emphasized the need for Caribbean communities to understand how AI systems function and how to engage them responsibly.

Wilson-Robinson, an intellectual property litigator licensed in New York, New Jersey, Jamaica and the U.S. Virgin Islands, addressed the legal dimensions of AI. Drawing on her experience in trademark and patent prosecution and litigation, she pointed to the slow pace of legislation designed to regulate artificial intelligence and protect creators.

Dr. Turner-Lee explored the broader societal implications of AI, including its intersection with governance and social justice. Her work focuses on the design and application of AI models, particularly how they affect marginalized communities. She underscored the importance of ensuring that AI systems do not replicate or amplify existing inequities.

Dr. Engling contributed a cultural perspective, highlighting the need to safeguard Caribbean stories, language and historical records in an era increasingly shaped by algorithmic content generation.

Organizers described the meeting as highly engaging, with 15 attendees joining the host and four speakers for what participants repeatedly characterized as a necessary dialogue. “This is an important conversation, and I am happy SACD is having it,” each speaker noted during the session. Sehlotho later added, “Thank you very much! 🙏🙏🙏 It was truly a great event! 💯”

Among the key takeaways was the recognition that AI is one of the fastest investigative tools available, but its outputs must be verified for accuracy. Participants also acknowledged that while AI-related legislation is advancing, it is doing so slowly. Concerns were raised about profit motives outpacing privacy protections in the development and deployment of AI technologies.

The discussion urged Caribbean communities to critically examine AI systems to ensure they reflect authentic cultural identities. Attendees were encouraged to question the sources behind AI-generated content, particularly in the entertainment sector, where some creative concepts may draw from collective trauma without proper context or consent.

A major challenge issued during the session was for Caribbean stakeholders to develop their own heritage-focused database systems — incorporating regional icons, images, stories and music — to maintain control over cultural representation in digital spaces.

Panelists also stressed the importance of preparing the next generation. Encouraging children and young people to pursue STEM subjects was framed as essential to protecting and advancing Caribbean interests in a technology-driven future.

At the same time, speakers emphasized that AI should not be viewed solely with skepticism. Participants were encouraged to embrace the technology, explore its benefits and consider the economic opportunities it presents for Caribbean innovators and entrepreneurs.

SACD said it remains committed to continuing the conversation within the diaspora, positioning the February 25 forum as the start of a longer-term effort to ensure that artificial intelligence develops in ways that respect and reflect Caribbean heritage.