AI Insights for Policymakers
The AI Insights for Policymakers program provides a platform for policymakers and scientists to have timely and meaningful interactions to inform their thinking around AI and policy.
Overview
The AI information space is noisy, often highly technical, and full of competing claims and vested interests. Finding reliable, independent and, above all, relevant insights is challenging. This rings especially true for policymakers who are grappling with how best to approach, regulate or leverage AI for the public interest despite having limited access to technical AI expertise and no clear mechanism to engage with scientific experts.
The AI Insights for Policymakers program addresses this gap by providing a platform for policymakers and scientists to have timely and meaningful interactions on key issues. Ultimately, we seek to bolster evidence-based policies across Canada by enabling policymakers to tap into the breadth and depth of the Canadian AI ecosystem’s knowledge.
Through a combination of open and accessible office hours with the expert group, as well as more in-depth policy feasibility testing exercises, the AI Insights for Policymakers program will connect policymakers with relevant experts to inform their thinking around AI and policy.
The Expert Group
We recruited a diverse group of 12 AI experts with wide-ranging expertise, led by two co-chairs from the Canadian AI scientific community.
The primary mandate of the Expert Group is to provide targeted technical and socio-technical advice. Drawing on their expertises, they will provide advice and relevant knowledge to policymakers at all levels of government on specific challenges. Additionally, the group will draw on experts in the broader Canadian AI ecosystem on a timely basis.
The primary mandate of the Expert Group is to provide targeted technical and socio-technical advice. Drawing on their expertises, they will provide advice and relevant knowledge to policymakers at all levels of government on specific challenges.
Additionally, the AI Insights for Policymakers Program is led by a secretariat based out of Mila and CIFAR, and can draw on experts in the broader Canadian AI ecosystem on a timely basis.
How to Connect With the Expert Group
Office Hours
The AI Insights for Policymakers Program organizes free and independent in-person or virtual office hours, as well as 2 in-person sessions in different cities across Canada. Through the office hours, policymakers have the chance to sit down with the expert group made up of Canadian AI scientists to openly discuss their challenges relating to AI and Policy, helping them build their thinking around complex issues.
Dates and location for upcoming office hours
- In-person and virtual: October 9 & 10, 2025 in Ottawa
- Virtual Office Hours: March, 2026
- In-person and virtual: Early June, 2026 in Montreal
Policy Feasibility Testing
As AI-related policy initiatives ramp-up across Canada, the AIPP will offer policy feasibility testing services to ensure more robust AI policies, reviewed through a technical lens.
If you are interested in bringing a draft policy proposal to the expert group, contact us by email.
Core Expert Group
Co-chairs
Alissa Centivany
Assistant Professor, Western University, Faculty of Information and Media Studies
Kevin Leyton-Brown
Canada CIFAR AI Chair at Amii. Professor, University of British Columbia. Associate Member, Vancouver School of Economics
Members
Ulrich Aïvodji
Assistant Professor, École de technologie supérieure (ETS), Department of Software and Information Technology Engineering. Associate Academic Member, Mila
Glen Berseth
Canada CIFAR AI Chair and Core Academic Member, Mila. Assistant Professor, Université de Montréal, Department of Computer Science and Operations Research
Samuel Dahan
Founder of OpenJustice, Head of Deel Lab and Associate Professor at Queen’s University
Rozita Dara
Associate Professor, University of Guelph and Co-Director of AI4Food
Audrey Durand
Canada CIFAR AI Chair and Associate Academic Member, Mila. Assistant Professor, Université Laval, Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering
Hadis Karimipour
Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Secure and Resilient Cyber-Physical Systems and Associate Professor, University of Calgary
Hugo Larochelle
Advisory Committee Member, Learning in Machines & Brain, CIFAR. Adjunct Professor at the Université de Montréal and Core Industry Member at Mila
Reihaneh Rabbany
Assistant Professor at McGill University, Core Academic Member at Mila and Canada CIFAR AI Chair
Frank Rudzicz
Full Professor, Dalhousie University, Original Faculty Member at the Vector Institute, Status Professor at the University of Toronto, Killam Memorial Chair, and Canada CIFAR AI Chair
Jinqiu Yang
Associate Professor, Concordia University
Advisory Committee
- Lisa Austin (Professor, University of Toronto, Faculty of Law)
- Anneke Olvera (Director, Standards Council of Canada)
- Marc Saner (Professor, University of Ottawa and Departmental Science Advisor, NRCan)
- Mark Schaan (Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet — Artificial Intelligence, PCO)
- Graham Taylor (Canada CIFAR AI Chair, Vector Institute; Professor, University of Guelph)
- Rachel Wernick (Fellow, Public Policy Forum)
Secretariat
- Anna Jahn (Senior Director, Public Policy and Inclusion, Mila)
- Henri Vilandre (Policy Analyst, Public Policy and Inclusion, Mila)
- Filippo Maria Sposini (AI Program Manager, CIFAR)
- Brent Baron (Chief of Staff, AI, CIFAR)
