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, roundtables on specific topics and 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 10 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.
This initiative is led by a secretariat based out of Mila and CIFAR, with guidance from an Advisory Committee and two co-Chairs who provide strategic leadership.
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 every four months in different cities across Canada. Ranging from 30 mins to 1h, 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
- Virtual Office hours: November 27, 2024
- In-person and virtual: January 10, 2025 in Montréal
- Virtual Office Hours: March 19, 2025
Survey
The AI Insights for Policymakers program will design and conduct a recurring survey of both policymakers and scientists to benchmark and track their perspectives on AI risks and capabilities, to identify where their views align or differ, and to identify gaps and needs where policymakers can benefit from AI expertise. Results will be shared publicly and updated regularly.
Core Expert Group
Co-chairs
Nidhi Hegde
Canada CIFAR AI Chair and Fellow, Amii. Associate Professor, University of Alberta, Department of Computing Science
Blake Richards
Canada CIFAR AI Chair and Core Academic Member, Mila. Associate Professor, McGill University, School of Computer Science and Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery.
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
Alissa Centivany
Assistant Professor, Western University, Faculty of Information and Media Studies
Marie Charbonneau
Assistant Professor, University of Calgary
Audrey Durand
Canada CIFAR AI Chair and Associate Academic Member, Mila. Assistant Professor, Université Laval, Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering
Shion Guha
Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Faculty of Information
Guillaume Lajoie
Canada CIFAR AI Chair and Core Academic Member, Mila. Associate Professor, Université de Montréal, Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Canada Research Chair in Neural Computation and Interfacing
Laleh Seyyed-Kalantari
Assistant Professor, York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering
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)
- Kira Lussier (Program Officer, Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, CIFAR)
- Henri Vilandre (Policy Analyst, Public Policy and Inclusion, Mila)
- Gagan Gill (Associate Director, AI & Society, CIFAR [on leave])
Policy Feasibility Testing
As AI-related policy initiatives ramp-up across Canada, the AI Insights for Policymakers program 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.
