‘Ethical AI’ research project launched at Ontario university

Ontario Tech University has launched the Mindful Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (MAIRI), a new, interdisciplinary artificial intelligence hub that positions Canada at the forefront of ethical, people-first AI.

The Mindful Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (MAIRI) and the people leading it share a “clear vision” of a thoughtful, intentional and inclusive approach to AI research and innovation that supports humanity and global flourishing.

“One of the great stories of the 2020s will undoubtedly be the accelerating development and use of AI technology, along with its profound impact on humanity,” said MAIRI Director Dr. Peter Lewis, an associate professor at the university, a Canada Research Chair in Trustworthy AI and a global expert on the subject.

“To ensure AI is an empowering technology, we must prioritize our values of dignity, inclusivity and intellectual curiosity through its development. Through MAIRI, we are championing an approach to AI research and innovation that is thoughtful, interdisciplinary and done in partnership.”

Lewis has long maintained raising a caution flag for those who assume the information AI provides is always reliable and accurate.

Can we trust AI to admit when it doesn’t know something?

“With current AI systems, we really can’t,” Lewis said. “As humans, we inherently know we are not perfect, and we expect that level of humility and acknowledgement from one another. So, we might also expect AI to have this same kind of characteristic, to be considered trustworthy. Perhaps it’s due to media illiteracy or what psychologists call ‘automation bias’, but people may currently have a built-in assumption that everything AI generates is correct.”

MAIRI’s research will focus on creating the technology needed to realize the vision of AI for good, built on a deep understanding of people, society, organizations and the planet.

MAIRI’s research priorities include:

• Building AI responsibly: Promoting fairness and justice, tackling social exclusion and working in partnership to ensure technology benefits everyone, while building systems that are safe and put less strain on our environment.
• Empowering humanity: Creating intelligent machines for social good that positively reshape education, health care, the workforce and communities, opening new opportunities for social and planetary benefit.
• Developing social intelligence: Building AI with self-awareness, the ability to understand and respond to social and emotional context, to support co-operation and collective action.

More than 50 researchers representing every Ontario Tech faculty and interdisciplinary expertise and a variety of outside partners, including the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Lakeridge Health, Meta and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, are involved in the project.

The leadership team includes Lewis, Dr. Jeremy Bradbury (Software visualization, human-centred software engineering), Dr. Janette Hughes (Technology and pedagogy), Dr. Steven Livingstone (Affective data science), Dr. Masoud Makrehchi (AI and machine learning, text and data mining, natural language processing), Dr. Isabel Pedersen (Embodied computing, augmented reality, wearable technologies, emergent media, AI ethics), Dr. David Rudoler (Health economics research, data science) and Dr. Bobby Stojanoski (Developmental neuroscience and social cognition).

“Ontario Tech has established itself as a national leader in applied and responsible AI,” said Dr. Les Jacobs, the vice-president of research and innovation at the school. “The Mindful Artificial Intelligence Research Institute builds on our university’s strengths in innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring Canada’s AI future is not only technologically advanced but also ethical, inclusive and sustainable.”

Learn more about MAIRI and Ontario Tech’s leadership in responsible AI innovation: ontariotechu.ca/ai.