The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Cultural Preservation and Livelihood Changes of the Indigenous Community in Sri Lanka

Abstract

In the modern era, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a pivotal driving force behind global social transformations. Although Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic nation, substantial evidence confirms that the Vedda community persists as the country’s indigenous inhabitants. This study aims to evaluate the shifts occurring within the cultural, economic, and social structures of the Vedda community due to the influence of Artificial Intelligence. The infiltration of modernization and digital technologies has presented significan challenges to these indigenous people, whose traditional lifestyle is intrinsically linked with nature. This research adopts a Qualitative Methodology, utilizing Ethnographic Observation and In-depth Interviews for data collection. Primary data were gathered from indigenous inhabitants in the Dambana and Aligambe regions of Sri Lanka. The research findings indicate that AI technology has catalyzed a Digital Divide within the Vedda
community. While AI tools facilitate the global promotion of their art and culture, they simultaneously act as catalysts for the erosion of their unique dialects and oral literature.
Furthermore, the study identifies an increase in Cultural Alienation among indigenous
youth due to the prioritization of dominant cultural values through these technologies. This
research analyzes the direct and indirect impacts of Artificial Intelligence on the social
fabric of Sri Lankan indigenous communities from a sociological perspective.