Overview
As one of the world’s leading AI nations, with a long track record and deep expertise in AI, Canada has a critical role to play in advancing the world’s understanding of the risks associated with advanced AI systems and how to mitigate them.
Building on decades of investment in research leadership and our strong commitment to responsible AI, the CAISI Research Program at CIFAR advances Canadian-led fundamental and applied research on the technical and social-impact challenges of AI Safety.
The CAISI Research Program at CIFAR will:
- Take a multidisciplinary approach to understanding AI safety and how to mitigate the risks.
- Address both short- and long-term risks of frontier AI systems.
- Provide opportunities for both rapidly deployed projects and longer-term collaborations to develop new tools and approaches.
- Advance both fundamental and applied research.
- Build capacity and a community of researchers working on this effort across Canada.
Recent updates
- March 4, 2025: Call for Expressions of Interest for Solution Networks in AI Safety announced
- January 2025: CIFAR and the University of Waterloo Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute are partnering on a special issue of the Canadian Public Policy journal on “AI Safety and Public Policy in Canada".
- January 30, 2025: Call for Proposals for Catalyst Grant Projects on AI Safety announced
- December 12, 2024: Nicolas Papernot and Catherine Régis appointed Co-Directors of the CAISI Research Program at CIFAR
- November 12, 2024: Announcement of launch of the Canadian AI Safety Institute
Safety research news
AI and Society
CAISI Research Program at CIFAR announces council membership
February 03, 2025
AI and Society
Nicolas Papernot and Catherine Régis appointed Co-Directors of the CAISI Research Program at CIFAR
December 12, 2024
AI and Society
Government of Canada announces Canadian AI Safety Institute
November 12, 2024
AI and Society
Beyond privacy: it’s time for a rights-based approach to regulating AI for children
April 24, 2024
Stay informed
For ongoing updates on the activities of the CAISI Research Program, subscribe to AICan Bulletin, our monthly newsletter outlining the advances of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy at CIFAR.
CAISI Research Council
The CAISI Research Program at CIFAR is guided by a council of experts, led by two Co-Directors.
The Council is comprised of research experts (members at large) and representatives from CIFAR and the National Research Council, drawing on extensive expertise at Canada’s three National AI Institutes: Mila in Montréal, Amii in Edmonton, and the Vector Institute in Toronto.
Co-Directors
Nicolas Papernot
Co-Director, Canadian AI Safety Institute Research Program (CAISI) at CIFAR; Canada CIFAR AI Chair; Vector Institute
Catherine Régis
Co-Director, Canadian AI Safety Institute Research Program (CAISI) at CIFAR; Canada CIFAR AI Chair; Mila
Members
Alyssa Lefaivre Škopac
Director, AI Trust & Safety, Amii
Mathias Lecuyer
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Computer Science, University of British Columbia
Joel Martin
Chief Digital Research Officer and Science Officer, National Research Council
Sheila McIlraith
Canada CIFAR AI Chair, Vector Institute
Deval Pandya
Vice President, AI Engineering, Vector Institute
Benjamin Prud’homme
Vice President, Policy, Safety and Global Affairs, Mila
Reihaneh Rabbany
Canada CIFAR AI Chair, Mila
Geoffrey Rockwell
Canada CIFAR AI Chair, Amii
Elissa Strome
Executive Director, the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, CIFAR
