Humans in the Loop - Film Review: Exploring AI Bias through Indigenous Perspectives
Introduction
In an era where artificial intelligence increasingly shapes our world, the film "Humans in the Loop" emerges as a powerful meditation on the hidden human labor behind AI systems. Directed by Aranya Sahay, this 2024 independent Indian drama explores the complex intersection of Adivasi culture, technology, and the invisible work of data labeling that trains AI systems. The film not only tells the story of Nehma, an indigenous mother, but also raises crucial questions about bias, representation, and the value of traditional knowledge in the digital age.
Film Overview
"Humans in the Loop" is a 2024 independent Indian drama that explores the intersection of Adivasi culture and artificial intelligence. The plot follows Nehma, an indigenous mother who works as a data labeller in Jharkhand, where she discovers how machine learning often ignores or misrepresents her community's traditional knowledge.
The film is distinguished by its visual poetry and sharp social commentary on the gendered biases embedded within modern technology. Despite its modest box office performance, the film has gained significant momentum through a micro-community rollout and received executive producer support from Kiran Rao. It has achieved international recognition by winning several Best Film awards and securing the prestigious Sloan Distribution Grant.
Thematic Exploration
The film brilliantly uses Nehma's story to reveal the invisible human labour embedded in AI systems. It portrays AI not as a neutral technological force, but as a system shaped by the biases, assumptions, and cultural perspectives of those who train and develop it. This is a poignant reminder that behind every algorithm lies human judgment and labor, often performed by workers from marginalized communities.
The narrative also highlights how indigenous worldviews challenge the cultural biases of modern technology. The film argues that true expertise comes from lived experience and that the wisdom of indigenous communities should be recognized and valued in the development of AI systems.
Key Visual and Narrative Elements
The film employs visual poetry as a means to communicate the complex relationship between human identity and technology. Through striking cinematography, Sahay captures the landscape of Jharkhand while interweaving the protagonist's internal world. The director effectively uses metaphor and visual symbolism to illustrate concepts that could otherwise be abstract, making the philosophical questions about AI bias accessible and emotionally resonant.
Distribution and Global Reach
What makes "Humans in the Loop" particularly significant is its distribution strategy. Despite being an independent Indian film, it has achieved remarkable global reach through: film festival circuits, the Sloan Distribution Grant which positioned it as eligible for Academy Awards consideration, and ultimately, a global release on Netflix. This trajectory demonstrates how niche, socially conscious cinema can find global audiences when backed by strategic support and critical acclaim.
Critical Reception
Critics have consistently lauded the film for its visual stunning execution combined with thematic importance. The film has been recognized for its emotional resonance and social commentary, winning awards at international film festivals. The recognition from institutions like the Sloan Foundation underscores the film's value as both an artistic work and an important cultural document exploring critical contemporary issues.
Conclusion
"Humans in the Loop" is more than a film about AI training data. It is a meditation on labor, dignity, cultural representation, and the voices that shape technology. By centering an Adivasi woman's experience, Aranya Sahay creates a space for conversations about whose perspectives matter in the development of artificial intelligence. The film stands as a powerful reminder that technology is never neutral—it reflects the values, biases, and wisdom of those who create it.
For educators, technologists, and anyone concerned with ethical AI development, this film offers invaluable insights into the human side of machine learning and the importance of including diverse voices in technological progress.
Related Videos
Watch these videos to deepen your understanding of the themes in 'Humans in the Loop':
In the rapidly evolving landscape of academia, the traditional image of a scholar buried under a mountain of dusty books is being replaced by the digitally savvy researcher navigating complex ICT tools.
In a recent engaging session on "Practical Skills for the Use of ICT in Research," Professor Dr. Dilip Barad, a senior academic with over 26 years of experience, laid out a roadmap for scholars navigating the digital age. From managing digital footprints to leveraging AI for literature reviews, here are the key takeaways from the session.
1. Your Digital Identity is Your "Aadhar" of Research
One of the most pressing issues identified during the session was the lack of digital visibility among scholars. A pre-session survey revealed that out of 49 participants, only a handful possessed updated profiles on platforms like Google Scholar or Scopus.
Dr. Barad emphasized that a digital profile is not just vanity; it is essential for data transparency and national ranking systems like IRINS (Indian Research Information Network System). He noted a stark contrast in digital adoption across India, observing that Southern states have significantly higher registration numbers on IRINS compared to the North, East, or West.
The Solution? ORCID.Dr. Barad describes the ORCID iD as the "Aadhar card" (unique identification number) for researchers. It serves as a persistent digital identifier that connects you to your contributions.
• Why you need it: Digital tools and AI fetch data through unique identity markers. Without an ORCID iD, your work may remain invisible to the algorithms that drive global citations.
• Actionable Tip: Create an ORCID profile today. It allows you to sync your biography, employment, and publications across other platforms like Web of Science and Vidwan with a single click.
2. The Elephant in the Room: AI and Ethics
Is using AI in research cheating? Dr. Barad addressed this head-on, comparing the ethical dilemma to John Dryden’s analysis of Ben Jonson. If a "great emperor" (or a sophisticated tool) plunders ideas, it is often viewed differently than a common thief.
However, in the context of modern research, AI should be viewed as a consultant, not an author.
• The Golden Rule: If human consultancy is valid, machine consultancy is also valid—provided it is disclosed.
• Publisher Guidelines: Major publishers like Elsevier and UNESCO now permit the use of Generative AI for language refinement and research organization, but with strict caveats: AI cannot be listed as a co-author, and its use must be transparently declared.
3. Practical Demo: Deep Research with NotebookLM
The highlight of the session was a live demonstration of Google’s NotebookLM, a tool generating buzz in the academic community. Dr. Barad demonstrated a "Deep Research" workflow using prompt engineering to accelerate the literature review process.
Here is the step-by-step workflow demonstrated:
1. Fast vs. Deep Research: The tool allows for "Deep Research" on a specific topic, searching websites to curate a list of sources (in this demo, 48 resources were found).
2. Structuring the Data: Instead of reading blindly, the first prompt requested a table showing publication dates, author credentials, and whether the sources were primary or secondary.
3. Citation Analysis: A subsequent prompt asked the AI to identify which sources were most frequently cited by other sources in the notebook, helping to identify the most authoritative texts.
4. Finding the Gap: Perhaps most importantly, the tool was used to identify research gaps. The AI highlighted a lack of research regarding the "long-term cognitive consequences of automation"—essentially, what happens to the human brain when AI takes over our thinking processes.
5. Drafting the Review: Finally, the tool drafted a literature review complete with hypotheses and research questions based on the identified gaps, adhering to frameworks like PRISMA.
Despite the power of these tools, Dr. Barad concluded with a vital reminder: Human agency is irreplaceable.
While AI can synthesize data and generate hypotheses, the researcher must verify the output. For instance, the demonstration uncovered a fascinating potential research topic: "The Cognitive Consequences of Automation" and the "Human in the Loop" theory. This refers to the risk of "brain rot" or reduced cognitive function due to over-reliance on AI—a hypothesis supported by preliminary studies from MIT.
Final Thoughts
The transition from physical print to digital platforms is not just about convenience; it is about relevance. As Dr. Barad noted, digital tools can only communicate with digital data; they cannot read a physical book sitting on a shelf. To ensure your research is discoverable and impactful, you must embrace the digital ecosystem—starting with your ORCID profile and extending to the ethical use of AI tools.
When we hear the word "resilience," our minds often jump to images of toughness, grit, and an unshakeable strength. We think of courage, determination, and the ability to withstand immense pressure. This common understanding isn't wrong, but it's only a fraction of the story. It paints a picture of resilience as a rigid shield we hold up against the world.
A recent university webinar on the subject—delivered to an audience of engineering students, a group already familiar with solving complex problems—revealed that this view is surprisingly incomplete. The talk explored a set of profound, counter-intuitive principles for navigating life’s inevitable setbacks. It suggested that true resilience is less about being an immovable object and more about mastering a dynamic and adaptable internal art form.
This article shares the five most impactful and surprising takeaways from that discussion, reframing how we think about our ability to bounce back from adversity. These truths challenge the conventional wisdom about strength and offer a more practical roadmap for cultivating the capacity to not just survive challenges, but to grow from them.
1. True Resilience Isn't About Being Rigid; It's About Being Like Water.
One of the most powerful ideas presented was that real strength lies in flexibility, not hardness. The speaker drew upon the "Be Like Water" philosophy, famously attributed to Bruce Lee, to illustrate this point. Water is powerful enough to destroy concrete dams, yet it is also adaptable enough to take the shape of any container it is poured into, whether a cup, a bottle, or a teapot.
This is a surprising take on strength because we often associate resilience with being rock-solid and unyielding. The common image is of a person who stands firm and refuses to bend. But this philosophy suggests the opposite: true strength is fluid and formless. This philosophy is especially relevant today, as we are constantly required to adapt to new technologies, new ways of working, and unexpected global shifts—a challenge the speaker noted we are all currently facing. It’s the ability to adjust to your environment, to find a way around or through an obstacle without shattering. Rigidity is what breaks; adaptability is what endures.
"empty your mind be formless shapeless like water if you put water into a cup it becomes the cup if you if you put water into a bottle it becomes a bottle if you you put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot water can flow anywhere be water"
2. Resilience Is Your 'Black Box'—You Only Open It After a Crash.
The speaker offered a striking metaphor to explain the role of resilience in our lives, comparing it to an aeroplane's flight recorder, or "black box." This device is a crucial part of any aircraft, constantly recording flight data and cockpit conversations, but it is never opened or listened to during a normal, uneventful flight.
The black box is only searched for and analyzed after a crash. Its purpose is to help investigators understand what went wrong. Similarly, our resilience is a core part of who we are—a capacity we must constantly maintain—but its true function is revealed only during life's "crashes." These are the moments of extreme adversity, such as a serious illness, a major professional failure, or the devastating loss of a loved one. It is in these moments that we "open the box" to understand what we're made of and how to move forward.
This metaphor highlights the importance of nurturing our resilience before a crisis hits. The speaker suggested a comprehensive framework for this maintenance, a pyramid built on "5 Ps" (Passion, Persistence, Perseverance, Practice, Positive Attitude), "3 Es" (Education, Environment, Experience), "2 Ss" (Sports, Spirituality), and at the very top, "1 G" (the "Greatest of all those kinds of things," like courage, fortitude, and tenacity).
3. Sometimes, the Ultimate Test of Resilience Is Defying the Majority.
While many athletes display resilience in their sport, the speaker singled out Muhammad Ali as "the greatest" for a different reason—one that transcended the boxing ring. His story demonstrates that resilience isn't just about recovering from personal setbacks; it can also be about standing firm in one's principles against overwhelming external pressure.
During the prime of his athletic career, when he was the world boxing champion, Ali resisted the U.S. government's call to fight in the Vietnam War. As a result, he faced an official government ban that prevented him from participating in boxing—a devastating blow during the critical, fleeting years of a professional athlete's career. He refused to bow down to the immense pressure from the government and the majority public opinion of the time.
This example shows that resilience isn't always about bouncing back. Sometimes, it’s about having the fortitude to not back down in the first place, even when it means fighting powerful authorities and challenging popular belief. It is the courage to stand for a truth that may not be recognized until years later.
4. The Most Extreme Setbacks Can Fuel the Greatest Triumphs.
One of the most profound truths about resilience is that our deepest wounds can become the source of our greatest strengths. The story of Arunima Sinha, as told in the webinar, is a stunning testament to this principle.
Sinha was a national volleyball player in India, traveling on a train when she was attacked by robbers. They threw her from the moving train, and she landed on a parallel track. Lying there, half-conscious, she could not move her leg as another train approached. It ran over her leg, which had to be amputated. As she lay injured on the tracks, with trains passing by, she resolved, "I'm not going to die." She was rushed to the hospital where, in a further testament to human connection, the doctor gave his own blood to save her.
What happened next is extraordinary. After surviving this unimaginable trauma, Sinha, now with an artificial limb, set a new goal. She went on to become the first female amputee in the world to conquer Mount Everest. She didn't stop there, proceeding to climb the other highest peaks on every continent. The speaker urged the audience not just to hear these stories, but to research them, to write about them, and to make them a personal source of inspiration. Her life is a powerful lesson: the most extreme and unthinkable setbacks can become the very foundation for unparalleled achievements.
5. A Powerful Strategy for Building Resilience Is to Visualize Failure.
In a world saturated with the "power of positive thinking," one of the most counter-intuitive takeaways came from the webinar's Q&A session. When asked about preparing for adversity, the speaker advised a strategy that runs contrary to popular self-help narratives.
Instead of focusing only on success, he recommended always visualizing what will happen if you fail. His advice is not about being pessimistic, but about what he calls an ability to "positively look at negativity." This practice forces you to think through the consequences and, crucially, to create a Plan B, Plan C, and even a Plan D. This mental preparation makes you far more robust and truly resilient when things inevitably go wrong.
He applied this personally while preparing for the webinar itself, which was threatened by the forecast of a severe cyclone. By anticipating a total failure of electricity and internet, he arranged for a hotel room with a private generator and a backup internet connection. The show would go on, no matter what. This proactive approach to potential failure is a cornerstone of practical resilience.
True resilience is a complex and multifaceted skill. As these principles show, it is far more than simple toughness. It is the adaptability of water, the quiet readiness of a black box, the moral courage to defy the crowd, and the strategic wisdom to prepare for failure. For a generation being trained to build the future, these lessons are not just inspiring; they are essential design principles for a well-lived life.
It’s not a question of if a setback will happen, but when. What is one thing you can do today to start maintaining your own "black box"?
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