Shaping AI for Just Futures

About the Conference

Join us for a global and interdisciplinary conversation on the ethical, legal and societal implications of artificial intelligence with leading law, policy and ethics scholars from around the globe.

This groundbreaking conference brings together a diverse and interdisciplinary mix of scholars, policymakers, engineers, social scientists, philosophers, and regulators who are at the forefront of AI theory, design, and development.

Spanning two days, the conference features an engaging program of keynote speeches, panel discussions, armchair conversations, poster sessions, and exhibitions with leading thought leaders from North, Central and South Americas, Africa, Oceania, Asia and Europe.

Hosted by the AI + Society Initiative, the conference aims at amplifying the voices and perspectives of women, youth, seniors, Indigenous People, LGBTQIA2S+, racialized communities, people with disabilities, linguistic minorities, and those at the intersection of these identities.

Our attendees will include those shaping the legal and social structures in which AI operates, fostering exciting interdisciplinary conversations and debates that drive innovation and responsibility in AI development and deployment.

 

This conference will be in English only, but the poster session will be in French and English.

Schedule

Speakers from around the globe will join uOttawa leading thought leaders for conversations on responsible AI, ethical design of AI systems, the state of regulatory efforts around the world, privacy, AI-facilitated abuses and violence, agriculture and environment data, healthcare, copyright, government and decision-making, and the justice system.

 

Regulating AI around the World

Florian Martin-Bariteau, Sergio Branco, Woody Hartzog, Marcelo Thompson, Nagla Rizk and Célia Zolynsky

AI and Copyright

Michael Geist, Sergio Branco, Carys Craig, Christophe Geiger and Caroline Ncube 

AI and Privacy

Teresa Scassa, Céline Castets-Renard, Woody Hartzog and Andrea Slane 

AI, Inclusion and Equality

Jane Bailey, Bita Amani, Chinmayi Arun, Emily Laidlaw, and Andrew Selbst

Regulating AI Medical Devices 

Colleen Flood, Jake Okehukau Effoduh,  Michael Froomkin, Calvin Ho, Catherine Regis, and Devin Singh

Shaping AI for Global South

Chinmayi Arun

Designing Ethical and Inclusive AI

Jason Millar and Chantal Rodier

AI and Tech-Facilitated Abuse and Violence

Jane Bailey, Noura Al-Jizawi, Suzie Dunn,Alessandra Gomes, Noelle Martin and Chidera Okolie 

AI, Data, Agriculture, and Environment

Kelly Bronson,  Tesh Dagne and Maaz Gardezi

AI and Government

Teresa Scassa, Jen Raso, Catherine M. Sharkey and Marcelo Thompson

AI and Justice

Jacquie Burkell, Karine Gentelet and Katie Szilagyi 

AI for Good

Latanya Sweeney

 

The conference will also include a poster session showcasing the latest research and developments in AI, law, policy, and ethics, allowing for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to discuss their work and exchange ideas with a diverse audience.

Registration

Register Now!

 

General Registration	CA$ 125 Early bird rate for first 50 tickets sold: $75
Full-time Faculty, Government and Civil Society	CA$ 75 Early bird rate for first 50 tickets sold: $50
Students	CA$ 40 Early bird rate for first 50 tickets sold: $20

All amounts are in Canadian dollars. Early Bird Registration is open and will end on September 15 (or when the first 50 tickets have been sold). After this, regular registration fees will take effect.

 

Information for Foreigners: Should an attendee need an official letter to be able to obtain a visa. If you require one, please email aisociety@uottawa.ca with confirmation of your registration.

Payment and Cancellation Policy: Refunds are not available. If you are not able to attend, please email aisociety@uottawa.ca. You may designate a substitute attendee (in the same registration category), subject to approval by the Organizing Committee. You may substitute at no cost before September 25, 2023. After that date, substitutions will be charged a $50 processing fee.

 

Program Disclaimer: Program content and scheduled panelists are subject to change. Please check our website for regular updates and additional program details.

Travel and accommodation

Travel arrangements and costs are the responsibility of each participant. That said, below is information on how to join us at the University of Ottawa, hotels, and places to explore while you are visiting.

 

Coming by Air

You can reach Ottawa by flying to Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW).

Air Canada is the Official Canadian Airline of the International AI + Society Conference and offers a special discount up to 10% to people travelling for the conference. (The discount is only 5% on North American standard fares.)

Please use the conference exclusive promotion code: KUZKKXQ1.

The eligible travel period begins Wednesday, October 11, 2023 and ends Friday, October 27, 2023.

 

Coming by Train

You can reach Ottawa by train with Via Rail and arrive at Ottawa Tremblay Road Train Station.

All members of Canadians universities, can use the CAUBO discount of 12,5% on each ticket for up to 3 additional tickets for people travelling with you. In order to take advantage of the discounted fares, use the CAUBO discount code 710810 when booking your ticket on ViaRail.ca.

 

Coming by Car

Paid parking is available on a first come, first serve basis in the Brooks Garage or the Desmarais Garage for the whole day. Be sure to park your car in the designated visitor parking area and remember your parking space number for payment at the payment kiosk.

 

Accommodation

Most hotels in Ottawa will offer you a discounted fare when you ask for the uOttawa/CAUBO discount.

The closest hotels offering preferred rates are:

• Novotel Ottawa, 33 Nicholas Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 9M7
• Le Germain Hotel Ottawa,  30 Daly Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1N 6E2 
• Courtyard Ottawa Downtown, by Marriott, 350 Dalhousie Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 7E9 
• Les Suites Hotel Ottawa, 130 Besserer Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 9M9

 

Exploring Ottawa

Ottawa is the capital of Canada. The National Capital Region (Ottawa-Gatineau) is the home of major federal institutions (Parliament, Supreme Court of Canada), national museums (National Gallery, Museum of History, Aviation Museum, War Museum, Museum of Natural History, Museum of Science and Technology) and natural and human-made wonders (Gatineau Park and River, Rideau River and Falls, Ottawa River and Chaudière Falls, Rideau Canal and Locks).

Sponsors

This international conference will be presented by Microsoft* and sponsored by CIFAR, with the support of the Scotiabank Fund for AI and Society at the University of Ottawa, and X*, as well as of the Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue, the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, the Faculty of Law, Common Law Section and the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Ottawa. 

The Government of Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is also generously supporting scholars from the majority world.

* Funds from Microsoft and X come from sponsorship made towards the We Robot 2020 conference that was moved online due to the pandemic. Sponsors had no input in the conference organization, the schedule or the speakers.

Contact

For general inquiries, please contact: aisociety@uottawa.ca