Authente-Kente: Enabling Authentication for Artisanal Economies with Deep Learning

The economy for artisanal products such as Navajo rugs or Pashmina shawls are often threatened by mass-produced fakes. We propose the use of AI-based authentication one part a larger system that would replace extractive economies with generative circulation. In this case study we examine initial experiments towards development cell phone based app kente cloth in west Africa. describe context weavers and sales; an test machine learning algorithm distinguishing between real fake kente, outline next stages development.