This text is part of the special section Higher Education
From June 5 to 9, 2023, 40 people from diverse backgrounds will participate in the new summer school organized by the University of Montreal and Mila, the Quebec Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI). This intensive training, which will combine practice with theory, will provide essential skills to better understand and manage issues at the intersection of responsible AI and human rights.
The two organizations are not their first collaboration to link digital development to ethical principles. In 2018, they launched the Montreal Declaration initiative for the responsible development of artificial intelligence, which enjoys international influence. “In the wake of this declaration, we want to promote the development of AI that does not just testify to technical prowess, but which integrates responsibility at its heart”, underlines Catherine Régis, Associate Vice-Rector for Strategic Planning and responsible digital innovation at the University of Montreal and scientific director of this new program.
An interdisciplinary understanding
Catherine Régis worked with her team on an activity report for the Responsible AI Montréal Declaration, which revealed training needs to give even more momentum to the movement. “We must promote a greater understanding and practice of responsible AI by the various players in the AI ecosystem, whether they are those who develop it, supervise it or implement it in their organizations and develop their critical thinking”, says the vice-rector.
The summer school, which will welcome around forty participants next June, is oriented towards interdisciplinarity, and is therefore aimed at a wide audience. “The school is open to graduate students and researchers, but also to all professionals from the public, private and non-profit sectors who touch AI directly or indirectly. We want to allow this community to come together and discuss different issues in a single school,” explains Catherine Régis. Candidates, who can apply until January 29, must have basic AI-related expertise and/or professional experience in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) or other relevant areas of law, politics or social science.
Theoretical and practical training
“Being involved in several international committees, I understood that, often, the knowledge of responsible AI remains very intellectual. The players in the ecosystem basically know what the OECD and the Montreal Declaration say, but the magic does not happen naturally for all these people, with different values, cultures, professional training and challenges, to go beyond beyond conceptualization by moving concretely towards responsible AI”, notes Mr.me Regis. The summer school has therefore been designed to help participants develop the necessary leadership, scientific diplomacy and ability to work in interdisciplinarity.
The five days of training will be organized at Mila’s premises in two stages. The morning will be devoted to knowledge dissemination (human rights and responsible AI, ethical principles, etc.), while the afternoon sessions will develop skills through practical workshops and learnings by experience.
International participants
The Université de Montréal has already received numerous applications from students and professionals from all over the world. “Inclusiveness and understanding the north-south reality is important in responsible AI. We will also be able to offer certain scholarships to those who will not be able to join the school for financial reasons,” explains Catherine Régis. A certificate and credits will be offered under certain conditions to participants who have successfully completed the program.
The bilingual sessions and presentations (in French and in English) will be animated by experts and speakers from various geographical origins. Some international organizations, such as UNESCO, will participate.
“Very different actors contribute to the development of AI, such as AI experts, lawyers and ethicists. Achieving the development of common standards and language is both the solution and a major challenge, which requires specific skills and the ability to listen and adapt that is not always deployed in these fast-paced environments. “, she notes. By spending five days to think about it and develop knowledge and skills, participants will leave aware of this issue and equipped to deal with it.
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