LAIA¶
A 6-month community intervention exploring local AI versus global search systems in Barcelona’s El Clot neighborhood. Investigating how AI can serve local communities rather than extracting value for distant algorithms.
Project Team¶
Nuria ValsellsCommunication & Design
IAAC
IAACHosting Institution
Fab Lab Barcelona
Marius SchairerPrototyping & Development
IAAC
Akasha HubCollaboration & Exhibition
El Clot Community
Concept¶
Local AI vs global extraction
LAIA emerged from a critical question: What happens when AI systems serve local communities instead of extracting data for global platforms? Through a 6-month collaboration with Nuria at IAAC/Fablab Barcelona, we explored this tension between local and global AI in El Clot, a vibrant neighborhood in Barcelona.
The project challenged the dominant paradigm where AI search systems like Google funnel local queries through global algorithms, extracting value from communities while returning generic results. Instead, we investigated how retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) could create neighborhood-specific AI systems.
Working directly with residents, students, and local organizations, LAIA became both a technical experiment and a community intervention—exploring how AI can amplify local knowledge rather than replace it with algorithmic abstractions.
Setup¶
Technical infrastructure and community partnerships
Technical Infrastructure¶
We built a localized RAG system using neighborhood-specific data sources: local business directories, community event listings, resident interviews, and historical documentation about El Clot. The system prioritized hyperlocal knowledge over global search results.
Rather than relying on massive datasets, we created a curated knowledge base that reflected the lived experience of the neighborhood—from the best local bakeries to community organizing strategies.
Community Partnership¶
The collaboration with IAAC/Fablab Barcelona provided both technical resources and deep community connections. Nuria’s local expertise was essential for navigating neighborhood dynamics and building trust with residents.
We established partnerships with local schools, adult education centers, and community organizations to ensure the project served real needs rather than imposing external solutions.
Intervention¶
Community workshops and public engagement
Student Workshops¶
We conducted hands-on workshops with local students, teaching them to question AI systems and understand how algorithms shape their access to information. Students learned to compare local AI responses with global search results, developing critical digital literacy skills.
Adult School Engagement¶
Adult education sessions focused on practical applications: How could local AI help with job searches, housing information, or navigating city services? Participants shared their expertise while learning to interrogate algorithmic decision-making.
Public Exhibition¶
LAIA was exhibited at the ACT Festival at Akasha Hub, demonstrating the project’s findings to a broader audience. The exhibition showcased the contrast between generic AI responses and hyperlocal knowledge, sparking conversations about digital sovereignty and community autonomy.
Highlights & Insights¶
Key learnings and project impact
Community Knowledge vs. Global Algorithms¶
The project revealed how global AI systems often miss nuanced local knowledge—the informal networks, cultural practices, and community wisdom that actually make neighborhoods function. Local AI provided more relevant, contextual responses to resident queries.
Digital Sovereignty in Practice¶
LAIA demonstrated that communities can develop their own AI tools rather than accepting algorithmic colonization. By maintaining control over data and training processes, neighborhoods can preserve their autonomy while benefiting from AI assistance.
Educational Impact¶
Students and adults developed critical thinking skills about AI systems, learning to question algorithmic authority and understand how technology shapes their daily lives. The workshops created lasting awareness about digital literacy and technological choice.
Scalable Model¶
The LAIA methodology provides a template for other communities seeking technological autonomy. The project’s approach—combining technical development with community engagement—offers a replicable framework for local AI initiatives.
Interactive Platform¶
Experience LAIA’s community knowledge system and contribute your own local insights:
Connect with LAIA¶
- Website: LAIA Platform
- Instagram: @laia.collectiu
- GitHub: LAIA Repository
LAIA continues to evolve as a model for community-controlled AI, demonstrating that technology can serve local needs while preserving neighborhood autonomy and cultural identity.