Plus, the political turmoil in France explained, and what’s next for place-based economic development.
| Closing the gap: A call for more inclusive language technologies A growing body of research has found a digital language divide—where digital content is often available only in dominant languages like English, Spanish, Chinese, and French. Chinasa T. Okolo and Marie Tano emphasize that closing this divide goes beyond adding more languages to datasets. The power dynamics and biases that shape how languages are utilized on digital platforms must also be addressed. |
A key point “Supporting grassroots organizations and fostering collaborative efforts can lead to AI systems that are more inclusive, culturally aware, and beneficial to all linguistic groups.” — Chinasa T. Okolo and Marie Tano |
| More research and commentary What is going on in France? Earlier this month, the French parliament called and passed a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his cabinet, ousting the government after just three months in office. In a new Q&A, Tara Varma discusses the fallout and President Emmanuel Macron's approach. The state of place-based economic development. Over the past four years, federal place-based programs have helped drive economic growth in different places across the United States. With a new administration taking over in 2025, what comes next for these programs? David L. Johnson, Mark Muro, Mayu Takeuchi, and Robert Maxim explore ways to sustain place-based development going forward. |
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