Unlocking AI’s insights: SRI's “Artificial Intelligence is Here" course goes public
Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly larger role in our lives. What do we need to do to ensure that this powerful technology is built for public benefit? A recent course developed by the Schwartz Reisman Institute explains what AI is, where it’s headed, and what the public needs to know about it.
The Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society (SRI) has released an online course focused on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in public sectors. Titled “Artificial Intelligence is Here,” the course comprises eight sessions designed to provide vital insights into the impacts of AI and its transformative implications for society.
In a collaborative effort from 2021 to 2022, SRI partnered with the Canada School of Public Service to develop this unique online curriculum, initially tailored exclusively for public service personnel across all levels in Canada. Each session combined pre-recorded lectures with moderated live panel discussions featuring distinguished scholars and industry leaders.
The series was co-developed by SRI Director and Chair Gillian Hadfield, professor of law and strategic management at the University of Toronto, and Associate Director Peter Loewen, professor of political science and director of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, who both contribute three lectures within the series. Other lecturers include SRI Research Lead Avi Goldfarb, Policy Lead Phil Dawson, and Janice Stein, founding director of the Munk School for Global Affairs & Public Policy.
SRI Director Gillian Hadfield (left) and Associate Director Peter Loewen (right) co-developed the “Artificial Intelligence is Here” series for the Canada School of Public Service.
Since its launch with the Canada School of Public Service in 2021, the series has generated significant impact by attracting over 5,300 public servants. Now, SRI is making the course accessible to the wider public as a resource for gaining a deeper understanding of the advantages and potential pitfalls of AI, as well as its implications for the common good and the machinery of governance.
The course's sessions cover diverse grounds, from the fundamental workings of AI and its potential impact on government decision-making to issues of citizen consent and the nuances of implementation. With discussions ranging from bias and fairness to regulatory approaches and the future of AI in government, the series offers a robust foundation for understanding and navigating the evolving landscape of AI integration in public services.
➦ Watch the videos in SRI’s “Artificial Intelligence is Here” series.
The need for new regulatory approaches
From chatbots to facial recognition and automation across a wide range of services, the surge of innovation in AI technology is permeating critical sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, and finance. As Hadfield points out in the series’ opening session, AI and machine learning are “new technologies that are not like anything we’ve seen before.”
Despite heated discussions about AI and its increasing integration across sectors and industries, the regulation of AI is still in its early stages. “Today, we’re living in almost a complete regulatory vacuum around the development and deployment of AI,” notes Hadfield.
Canada has been at the forefront of AI advancements for decades, with its AI capacity ranking fifth among 62 countries in the Global AI Index. However, the nation still lacks a comprehensive legal framework to effectively regulate its applications.
The most recent legislative development in Canada saw Parliament concluding its second reading of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) in April 2023. Once passed, AIDA will become Canada’s first piece of AI legislation, establishing parameters for AI deployment, including stipulating financial penalties for data privacy breaches and misconduct. The federal government also released a companion document in April that outlines some of its plans, including a consultation process leading to supporting regulations and, ultimately, the legislation’s enactment, slated for no sooner than 2025.
However, this pace of regulatory development continues to lag behind AI’s advances. In a recent op-ed, Hadfield observes that the contemplated legislation can “only provide a legal framework for what can or cannot be done.” While AIDA marks a leap forward, it remains general, and there is still a pressing need for regulatory mechanisms that give specific details on how to navigate and implement these prescribed activities effectively.
“AI is a new technology unlike previous forms of computing, in which a machine learns to write its own rules. As a result, it’s not easy to see or understand why the AI is doing what it is doing,” Loewen observes in the series’ concluding session.
“It’s therefore much more challenging to figure out how to hold humans responsible for its outcomes. We need new regulatory frameworks and practices to enable the use of AI technologies, and if we’re going to be successful in regulating AI, we need to think differently about how we craft and implement policy to match its speed and complexity,” Loewen added.
