Karen Colbert
The Algorithm Wasn’t Built for Us: Reclaiming the Future of AI, Education, and Culture is a newly published book by Karen Colbert. Colbert plays many roles as the General Education Department Chair and Lead Math Faculty at Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College; Founder of Atlas Executive Consulting, LLC.; and TCU DRUM Circles Fellow. The American Indian College Fund caught up with Colbert to ask about the focus of the book, her broader research interests, and what the future holds for her work and Indigenous-led artificial intelligence efforts.
Can you briefly describe the book in your own words?
The Algorithm Wasn’t Built for Us: Reclaiming the Future of AI, Education, and Culture is both a manifesto and a roadmap. It weaves together my lived experiences, research, and work in tribal colleges to expose how today’s AI systems often replicate inequities and how educators, leaders, and communities can reclaim these tools to create more inclusive futures. It’s equal parts personal story, practical guide, and a call to action.
What led you to write a book on this topic?
For example, was this related to a dissertation or previous research? Yes, this book grew out of my Ph.D. dissertation research in computational science and engineering, where I studied institutional change and data storytelling as tools for equity in higher education. At the same time, I was working closely with tribal college faculty and students who were navigating real challenges with AI in their classrooms. I realized there was a missing conversation: not just about the technology itself, but about who this evolving technology was or wasn’t “built for.” The book became my way of merging scholarship, advocacy, and storytelling into something accessible and useful.
What do you feel is the biggest takeaway for those who read your book?
What do you hope readers do with the knowledge in your work? The biggest takeaway is this: AI is not neutral. It reflects the systems, values, and blind spots of the people who build and train it. But that doesn’t mean communities have to remain powerless. My hope is that readers walk away both challenged and empowered to see AI differently, to ask better questions, and to design practices in education and beyond that are rooted in cultural values, equity, and human dignity.
Have you publicized this work in any way, such as at a book signing or in an interview with the author?
Yes, the book is launching alongside my keynote talks and professional development workshops this year. I’ve most recently shared the work from my book at the Minority Serving Cyberinfrastructure Consortium Annual Meeting in Nashville and at the American Indian College Fund’s TCU Faculty Convening in Minneapolis in May. I’m also continuing to bring it to campuses through workshops, faculty development institutes, and speaking engagements.
What are you working on now or hoping to do in the future?
Right now, I’m building companion workbooks and digital toolkits that help faculty and administrators put the book’s ideas into practice. I’m also expanding my Faculty Survival Series, which supports educators navigating burnout and AI transformation, and preparing for more national speaking opportunities. My long-term vision is to ensure that every tribal college and underserved institution has access to strategies, tools, and training that allow them to thrive in the AI era, not just survive it.
