WHAT’S HAPPENING

Here’s what we’re thinking about, talking about, and working on at the Schwartz Reisman Institute.

Research Schwartz Reisman Institute Research Schwartz Reisman Institute

From Toronto to Seoul: SRI researchers at ICML 2026

SRI researchers are heading to Seoul this July for ICML 2026, and they're arriving with a lot to share. Across 16 papers, six position papers, and a co-organized workshop, 15 members of our community are presenting work spanning machine learning theory, AI safety, clinical AI, legal compliance, and more.

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Research Schwartz Reisman Institute Research Schwartz Reisman Institute

SRI researchers present work at ACM FAccT 2026

SRI researchers will present 13 accepted papers and one workshop session at FAccT 2026, showcasing the Institute’s research in responsible AI, algorithmic governance, alignment, privacy, and the impacts of socio-technical systems.

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Research, Events Michael Zhang Research, Events Michael Zhang

Harming virtuously? Value alignment for harmful AI

The field of AI safety emphasizes that systems be aligned with human values, often stating AI should “do no harm.” But lethal autonomous systems used for firearms and drones are already harming people. How can we address the reality of purposely harmful AI systems? SRI Graduate Fellow Michael Zhang writes about a panel of experts exploring this topic.

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Announcement, Events Schwartz Reisman Institute Announcement, Events Schwartz Reisman Institute

Absolutely Interdisciplinary returns to spark new insights into the future of AI

The Schwartz Reisman Institute’s annual academic conference returns for a wide range of stimulating discussions on how the next phase of AI development will transform our world. Join keynote speaker Blaise Agüera y Arcas, panelists Richard Sutton, N. Katherine Hayles, and William Cunningham, and more. Registration is now open.

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Events, Research Anne-Marie Fowler Events, Research Anne-Marie Fowler

Entering the uncanny valley: Technophilosophy September Soirée explores the impacts of VR

How is virtual reality changing the way we live? Does living in a virtual landscape create new ethical and moral problems? At the first annual Technophilosophy September Soirée, SRI Research Lead Karina Vold convened an interdisciplinary panel of University of Toronto scholars to discuss the impacts of new technologies on the way we understand our world.

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Announcement, Events Schwartz Reisman Institute Announcement, Events Schwartz Reisman Institute

Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society announces Women in AI series

The Schwartz Reisman Institute is launching a new speaker and mentorship series to promote gender equity in artificial intelligence research, in collaboration with Deloitte. The Women in AI series will convene leading female AI researchers to share knowledge through seminar events that promote opportunities for women across the technology sector.

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Announcement, Events Schwartz Reisman Institute Announcement, Events Schwartz Reisman Institute

SRI Seminar Series returns for fall 2022 featuring talks on the ethics of technology

The SRI Seminar Series convenes the Schwartz Reisman Institute’s community to discuss cutting-edge ideas and scholarship at the intersection of technology and society. The 2022 Fall Seminar Series begins on September 14, 2022 with a presentation by Julie Shah, director of the Interactive Robotics Group at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.

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Events, Research Dan Browne Events, Research Dan Browne

Building democracy into recommender systems will require new tools and frameworks

In a session at Absolutely Interdisciplinary 2022, SRI Associate Director Peter Loewen, Jonathan Stray of the Berkeley Center for Human-Compatible AI, and Taylor Owen of McGill University discussed what methods and principles might be used to redesign the algorithms that decide what billions of people see in accordance with democratic values.

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