The Schwartz Reisman Institute’s annual academic conference will take place May 6–8, 2024, with select sessions taking place in the newly-completed Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus located in the heart of Toronto’s Discovery District. Speakers include: Peter Railton, Harper Reed, Huili Chen, Ray Perrault, Gillian Hadfield, and more.

Can algorithmic decision-making help clear backlogs in the courts, and is this a justified use of the technology? Do automated systems make “better” decisions than human judges, and what do we mean by “better”? Should legal professionals be involved in the design of automated systems, and if so, how? Nathalie Smuha and Abdi Aidid discuss these and related questions.

Canada’s federal government has released the latest draft of its online harms bill, otherwise known as Bill C-63. Below, Schwartz Reisman researchers take us on a tour through key aspects of the bill, including its taxonomy of harms, new expectations and requirements for social media platforms, and new kinds of protections for children and youth online.

The Schwartz Reisman Institute is pleased to announce the addition of 10 new faculty affiliates to its research community. Hailing from across the University of Toronto, the new cohort of faculty affiliates brings an array of expertise from diverse fields including sociology, Indigenous studies, philosophy, and computer science, enriching the scope of research conducted by SRI’s vibrant community.

The SRI Seminar Series returns for 2024 with 12 exciting presentations exploring how data-driven technologies are changing our world, including talks on economics, law, political science, privacy, behavioural science, linguistics, and the ethics of AI. Registration for all sessions is now open.

Do we trust machine learning systems, and if so why? How can ML systems earn and maintain our trust? These and related questions will be explored by an interdisciplinary working group convened by Beth Coleman now accepting applications from PhD and postdoctoral researchers.

SRI policy researchers David Baldridge and Jamie Amarat Sandhu trace the landscape of recent global AI safety initiatives—from Bletchley to Hiroshima and beyond—to see how governments and public policy experts are envisioning new ways of governing AI as rapid advancements in the technology continue to present challenges to policymakers.

The Schwartz Reisman Institute’s 2021–23 faculty fellows explored the social implications of new technologies, foregrounding the significance of ethics, equity, and human-centred values. Learn more about their research projects and how to apply for Schwartz Reisman fellowships.

Want to learn more about Canada’s Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Responsible Development and Management of Advanced Generative AI Systems? SRI Policy Researchers David Baldridge and Jamie Sandhu comment on the Code’s characteristics and shortcomings after its recent release following a summer of significant developments concerning generative AI.

There are economic and political incentives for AI companies to create their own set of rules. Alyssa Wong explores the benefits and drawbacks of self-regulation in the tech industry, and highlights the ultimate need for democratic oversight to ensure accountability, transparency, and consideration of public interests.

The SRI Seminar Series provides a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge research at the intersection of technology and society, and engage in discussions with the Schwartz Reisman Institute’s interdisciplinary community. The 2023–24 season kicks off September 20th with a talk by Aaron Hertzmann of Adobe Research.

The Schwartz Reisman Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of three distinguished University of Toronto faculty to its research leadership team. Beth Coleman, Kelly Lyons, and Anna Su will bring their expertise to help advance the Institute's mission of ensuring powerful technologies like AI are developed responsibly.