In this talk, Kuzminykh will explore how conversational interfaces with large language models (LLMs) are reshaping how people seek information, make decisions, and engage in creative work. While these systems offer intuitive and accessible interaction, they also raise concerns about user overreliance, prompt formulation challenges, bias amplification, and echo chambers. Drawing from her research with the COoKIE AI group, Kuzminykh examines the design of conversation architectures that can support more ethical, effective, and efficient human–AI collaboration. 

Can generative AI make us worse learners? Join the Wharton School’s Hamsa Bastani as she presents surprising findings from a large-scale study of AI tutors in high school classrooms—revealing how tool design can make or break learning outcomes, and why guardrails are key to long-term productivity in the age of AI.

How can foundation models drive open-ended innovation and learning? Join the University of British Columbia’s Jeff Clune as he explores groundbreaking advancements in the development of open-ended algorithms and agents that showcasing how these technologies are shaping the future of AI creativity and discovery.

If AI can simulate human emotions and cognitive capacities, like empathy, memory, and kindness, can it become our friend? The September Soiree on Technophilosophy returns for the third time to feature leading thinkers from a variety of disciplines—including psychology, philosophy, computer science, and cognitive science to discuss ethical topics about AI. ‘Technophilosophy’ asks philosophical questions about technology and uses to technology to answer traditional philosophical questions.

The Schwartz Reisman Institute’s annual academic conference Absolutely Interdisciplinary will explore interdisciplinary approaches to AI governance, risk and safety on May 29, 2025, in person at U of T’s Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus.

In this special in-person event, SRI Director David Lie will host Bruce Schneier, an internationally renowned security technologist, called a “security guru” by The Economist and author of over one dozen books—including his latest, A Hacker’s Mind—as well as hundreds of articles, essays, and academic papers, for a talk on the evolving landscape of trust in the age of artificial intelligence.

What is the legal and societal cost of “careless speech” in large language models? Join Sandra Wachter, professor of technology and regulation at the University of Oxford, for an exploration of how AI mistruths threaten knowledge systems and social trust, and how legal frameworks can address these emerging risks.

What really drives our attention in the digital age—addiction and compulsion, or our own representations of value? Join the University of Guelph’s Joshua August Skorburg for a talk exploring a new way of understanding the attention economy, showing how digital distractions influence our choices and sense of control.

Join SRI Research Lead Beth Coleman for a talk exploring the pivotal role of trust in human interactions with machine learning and AI technologies.

Join Yejin Choi, incoming professor in the Department of Computer Science at Stanford University, for an engaging presentation on the design of commonsense and moral reasoning in AI systems.

Join Catherine Stinson, Queen’s National Scholar in the Philosophical Implications of AI, for a special in-person seminar on the role of benchmark datasets in AI research, co-presented by the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology.

Understanding how trust is built between groups of people, institutions and technologies is essential for thinking about how AI systems can be built to reliably address human needs while mitigating risks. This roundtable convened by the Schwartz Reisman Institute as part of the 2025 AI Action Summit in Paris will explore the contextual and institutional dimensions of trust in AI systems.

Join Pamela Samuelson, distinguished professor of law at UC Berkeley and co-director of the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology, for a talk on the copyright challenges and legal implications posed by generative AI technologies.

How is machine learning transforming healthcare? Join Rahul G. Krishnan, University of Toronto professor and Canada Research Chair in Computational Medicine, to discover how AI innovations are revolutionizing diagnostics, treatment, and personalized care.

How can we build AI systems that reflect human values and promote social good? Join Virginia Dignum, professor of computer science at Umeå University, for a discussion on the ethical design and governance of artificial intelligence technologies.

Can AI systems act as an mediator to help groups with differing views find consensus? Join Christopher Summerfield, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Oxford, to explore how AI systems shed light on human decision-making.

What emerging risk frameworks and policy considerations for the use of advanced technologies like AI in high-stakes contexts are on the horizon? Join Stanford’s Daniel E. Ho to learn about assessing the reliability of AI in legal research.

What ethical risks might occur when AI systems are used for human social needs like romance, companionship, or entertainment? Join the University of Cambridge’s Henry Shevlin for an exploration of the potential benefits and harms of social AI.

How is the regulation of digital technologies influenced by geopolitical competition? Join the University of Chicago’s Aziz Huq for a talk on the future of the governance of technology.

How can algorithms contribute to or reduce inequality? Join Rediet Abebe to explore how mathematics and computation can support more equitable outcomes in the public sphere.

How can AI systems better support public health planning and policy? Join SRI Faculty Affiliate Laura Rosella for insights on how AI and data are transforming public health.

Can LLMs or agents built on top of them spontaneously “go rogue"? Join SRI Chair Roger Grosse for a special in-person edition of the SRI Seminar Series.

How are online networks, VR, and generative AI transforming the human experience? Join SRI Faculty Affiliate Bree McEwan to explore how technology is impacting the ways we communicate today.

How can we build technical systems that are secure and trustworthy? Join renowned computer scientist Cynthia Dwork of Harvard University for a talk on her latest research.

Why do large language models “hallucinate” facts and what can be done to mitigate this phenomenon? Join OpenAI’s Adam Tauman Kalai to learn more about new approaches towards AI alignment and safety.

How can we better understand the role of public trust in digital media? Join the University of Sydney’s Terry Flew to explore new approaches towards questions of mediated trust.

Join a panel of experts to explore pressing questions of safety in this unprecedented moment of proliferating and advancing AI technologies. The 2024 September Soiree in Technophilosophy promises to be a unique opportunity to expand your horizons and be part of a stimulating event that aims to provoke deep and meaningful engagement with our future with AI.

Join E3I faculty leads Sheila McIlraith, Diane Horton, David Liu, and Steven Coyne on May 28, 2024, for a special free online event exploring the creation and deployment of the University of Toronto Embedded Ethics Education Initiative.

The Ian P. Sharp Lectureship was established at the Faculty of Information Studies at the University of Toronto in 1989. It is intended to bring internationally renowned individuals to the campus to explore the transformative effects of information practice. The lectures, which are open to the profession and members of the public, are delivered every three to four years by a distinguished figure in information science and related fields.