Designing ethical and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) systems that benefit all of society requires a diversity of perspectives working together in equitable alignment. To promote equality and inclusion and champion the success of female-identified researchers across the field of AI development, the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society (SRI) is launching a new event series entitled “Women in AI,” developed in collaboration with Deloitte.

Women in AI is a speaker and mentorship series that will connect a global audience with a diverse group of female thought leaders in the field of AI research. Participants will explore how women are leading the development of new technologies and investigating emerging trends across the sector. The series will provide insights into cutting-edge research, bold points of views, and help business and community leaders elevate diverse voices while promoting opportunities for women to share their perspectives.

➦ Watch the recordings of the Women in AI speaker sessions.

A research and solutions hub at the University of Toronto, the Schwartz Reisman Institute is dedicated to ensuring powerful technologies like AI are safe, ethical, and benefit all of society. SRI’s community integrates a wide range of disciplines—including computer science, medicine, engineering, law, philosophy, and beyond—and draws on world-class expertise across universities, government, industry, and community organizations to unite research on emerging technologies with actionable solutions for public policy, the private sector, and citizens alike.

“In collaborating with Deloitte on this initiative, SRI will share knowledge, inspire conversations, and celebrate women in the fields of AI and STEM research. We have a diverse and exceptional group of speakers prepared, and look forward to giving them a platform to share research and provide mentorship to our broader community,” said SRI Director and Chair Gillian Hadfield, a professor in the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law and Rotman School of Management.

“To unlock the full potential of AI, we believe in paving the way for diverse perspectives,” said Deloitte’s Global AI & Data Offering Leader Costi Perricos. “Growing representation of women is a critical step in building trustworthy and effective AI. We are pleased to collaborate with the University of Toronto’s Schwartz Reisman Institute to strengthen our network of industry and academic women role models who can inspire others with their own AI journey.”

***Anna Goldenberg****, a professor in the Department of Computer Science and the Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto, will speak at the inaugural Women in AI seminar event.*

The Women in AI speaker series features six academic lectures, presented online on a monthly basis. The inaugural session takes place October 25th, 2022, with Anna Goldenberg, a professor in U of T’s Department of Computer Science and the Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Varma Family Chair in Biomedical Informatics and Artificial Intelligence at SickKids Research Institute, and a Vector Institute CIFAR AI Chair, who will explore how machine learning is poised to become an important part of decision-making in healthcare.

Deloitte is making a significant investment into championing the advancement of gender equity within AI innovation and research. The Women in AI speaker series complements the recently-launched Deloitte Women in AI Global Leadership Development Program, led by Beena Ammanath, executive director of the Global Deloitte AI Institute. The program is designed to promote learning, build connections, and celebrate equality for women leaders within Deloitte, and will be piloted globally from October 2022 to April 2023.

“At Deloitte, we are strong advocates of women designing purposeful and trustworthy AI applications. We are thrilled to join forces with the University of Toronto and SRI as part of our global Women in AI program to enhance our efforts in attracting, retaining, developing, and recognizing talented women in machine learning” said regional hub leader of the Deloitte AI Institute Canada, Audrey Ancion.

Registration for the first Women in AI event on October 25th with Anna Goldenberg is now live, with announcements for the next five lectures coming soon. Learn more and register now.