Our Vision

A new paradigm in AI research that democratizes access while preserving community privacy and control.

The Local AI Research Team represents a new paradigm in collaborative AI development. We're exploring how decentralized systems can democratize AI access while preserving privacy and fostering innovation. We envision a future where AI development is distributed across communities of researchers and users who maintain control over their data.

Core Principles

Open Collaboration

Transparent, inclusive environments where diverse perspectives drive innovation.

Privacy First

Protection of individual privacy while enabling collective intelligence.

Democratic Access

AI capabilities accessible to all, not just those with massive resources.

Ethical Development

Systems that serve humanity's interests and align with human values.

Research Areas

Our interdisciplinary approach focuses on practical, community-centered AI research through real-world experimentation.

Human-AI Interaction

Investigating community interactions with AI systems, exploring patterns of collaboration, trust-building, and knowledge co-creation.

  • • Community-centered interface design
  • • Trust & transparency mechanisms
  • • Cultural adaptation of AI systems

Community Knowledge Ecosystems

Developing frameworks for local knowledge sharing that strengthen networks while maintaining community autonomy and control.

  • • Local knowledge preservation
  • • Community-owned governance
  • • Federated learning applications

Data Loops & Learning Systems

Creating sustainable cycles where AI interactions generate value that returns to communities rather than being extracted.

  • • Community data sovereignty
  • • Value-return mechanisms
  • • Participatory design processes

Network & Structure

Our distributed research network connects institutions and communities, operating with a structure that reflects our values.

Institute of Advanced Architecture (IAAC)

Our primary hosting facility in Barcelona, providing physical infrastructure and academic framework for research activities.

Distributed Design Platform

Global network connecting designers, makers, and communities worldwide experimenting with distributed production and knowledge sharing.

FabLab Network

Access to community knowledge databases and maker spaces serving as living laboratories for our research.

Community-Research Partnerships

Working directly with communities as research partners rather than subjects, ensuring our work remains grounded in real community needs.

Collaboration Methodology

Distributed Learning

Connecting researchers across different contexts to understand AI from multiple perspectives.

Practice-Based

Learning through doing, with real community contexts informing our theoretical understanding.

Long-Term Thinking

Prioritizing sustainable approaches for deep understanding of complex socio-technical systems.

Open Research

Sharing findings openly for broader community benefit and collaborative improvement.

Join Our Community

An open network welcoming researchers, developers, and community members committed to community-centered AI.

How to Get Involved

  • • Join research projects in human-AI interaction and community knowledge systems
  • • Contribute to our open-source projects that emerge from real community needs
  • • Participate in implementations and exhibitions like the OatflakeMVP project
  • • Connect with our network through IAAC, Distributed Design Platform, and FabLabs
Get Involved

Our Values

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Community-Centered

AI that serves communities rather than extracting from them

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Practice-Oriented

Learning through doing with real community contexts

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Distributed Network

Spanning institutions, geographies, and disciplines

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Long-Term Focus

Sustainable approaches over rapid prototyping

Looking Forward

Our commitment to AI development that strengthens rather than extracts from local knowledge systems.

Community Partnership

Working with communities as research partners rather than subjects, ensuring their needs and perspectives shape our research directions. We build collaborative methodologies that respect local knowledge and expertise.

Open Knowledge Sharing

Publishing findings openly and developing tools that communities can adapt to their contexts. We ensure research benefits extend beyond academic circles to serve real community needs.

Join us as we shape the future of community-centered AI that truly serves the communities that contribute to its development.

Connect With Us