Absolutely Interdisciplinary Conference 2022
Absolutely Interdisciplinary 2022 was an academic conference hosted by the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society at the University of Toronto. The event aimed to foster interdisciplinary conversations among leading thinkers from various fields to address the challenges presented by artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies.
The conference covered a range of topics, including the redrawing of data boundaries, explanation and justification in AI, natural and artificial social learning, digital constitutionalism, collective agency in evolution and AI, and building democratic social choice into recommender systems. These sessions brought together experts to discuss the intersection of technology, law, and society.
Notable speakers included Lisa Austin, Boris Babic, Finale Doshi-Velez, Gillian Hadfield, Eric Horvitz, and Aziz Z. Huq, among others. The event provided opportunities for networking and collaboration among professionals from diverse disciplines.
The conference was designed for academics, researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals interested in the ethical and societal implications of AI and technology. Attendees gained insights into emerging research areas and engaged in discussions aimed at promoting human well-being through technological advancement.
Categories
Speakers(29)
Alexander Brechalov
Donnelly Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto
Alexander Brechalov is a postdoctoral fellow at the Donnelly Centre and the University of Toronto, working at the intersection of molecular biology and machine learning to develop new methods facilitating research in biology and medicine.
Alice Huang
Department of Philosophy, University of Toronto
Alice Huang is a PhD candidate interested in social and formal epistemology, as well as the application of computational methods to philosophical reasoning.
Anna Su
Associate Professor, Faculty of Law; Faculty Fellow, Schwartz Reisman Institute at University of Toronto
Anna Su is an associate professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto, focusing on international human rights law, comparative constitutional law, technology and international law, and law and religion.
Aziz Z. Huq
Frank and Bernice J. Greenberg Professor of Law at University of Chicago
Aziz Z. Huq is a scholar of US and comparative constitutional law, focusing on topics ranging from democratic backsliding to regulating AI, and has an active pro bono practice.
Boris Babic
Assistant Professor, Department of Statistics and Department of Philosophy; Faculty Fellow, Schwartz Reisman Institute at University of Toronto
Boris Babic is an assistant professor in the Departments of Statistics and Philosophy at the University of Toronto, a faculty affiliate at the Schwartz Reisman Institute, and a visiting professor in the Decision Sciences department at INSEAD, with research interests in Bayesian inference and decision-making.
Denis Walsh
Professor, Department of Philosophy; Research Lead, Schwartz Reisman Institute at University of Toronto
Denis Walsh is a philosopher of biology at the University of Toronto, investigating the nature of living things and their place in evolutionary biology.
Eric Horvitz
Chief Scientific Officer at Microsoft
Eric Horvitz serves as Microsoft's Chief Scientific Officer, providing leadership on advances and trends in scientific matters, and is recognized for his research on challenges and opportunities with uses of AI technologies.
Erina Moon
Faculty of Information, University of Toronto
Erina Moon is a Master of Information candidate at the University of Toronto, researching within the interdisciplinary area of human-centered data science, focusing on computing for social change in the public sector.
Finale Doshi-Velez
Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science at Harvard University
Finale Doshi-Velez is a Gordon McKay Professor in Computer Science at the Harvard Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, focusing on the intersection of machine learning, healthcare, and interpretability.
Gillian Hadfield
Professor, Faculty of Law; Director and Chair, Schwartz Reisman Institute at University of Toronto
Gillian Hadfield is the director and chair of the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society, a professor of law and strategic management at the University of Toronto, and a senior policy advisor at OpenAI, specializing in designing innovative legal and regulatory systems for AI.
Jennifer Nagel
Professor, Department of Philosophy; Faculty Affiliate, Schwartz Reisman Institute at University of Toronto
Jennifer Nagel is a professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Toronto, specializing in epistemology and philosophy of mind, focusing on intuitive impressions of knowledge and belief.
Jonathan Stray
Senior Scientist at Berkeley Center for Human-Compatible AI
Jonathan Stray is a senior scientist at the Berkeley Center for Human-Compatible AI, working on recommender systems and studying algorithms that select and rank content across various platforms.
Kamilah Ebrahim
Faculty of Information, University of Toronto
Kamilah Ebrahim is a Masters of Information candidate at the University of Toronto, focusing on Human Centered Data Science, with experience working with the United Nations and Global Affairs Canada.
Kate Larson
Professor, Department of Computer Science at University of Waterloo
Kate Larson is a professor in the Cheriton School of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo, focusing on the interaction of self-interested agents and developing approaches to computational issues in multiagent systems.
Kimberly Crasta
Translational Research Program, LMP, University of Toronto
Kimberly Crasta is a graduate student at the University of Toronto, completing her Master of Health Sciences degree in Translational Research, with a passion for patient-centered care and hopes to pursue a career in emergency medicine.
Lisa Austin
Professor, Faculty of Law; Chair in Law and Technology; Associate Director, Schwartz Reisman Institute at University of Toronto
Lisa Austin is a professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto, an associate director and research lead at the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society, and a co-founder of the IT3 Lab, focusing on interdisciplinary research on privacy and transparency in technology.
Natasha Jaques
Senior Research Scientist at Google Brain
Natasha Jaques is a senior research scientist at Google Brain, focusing on social reinforcement learning in multi-agent and human-AI interactions.
Pamela Snively
Chief Data and Trust Officer at TELUS
Pamela Snively is Chief Data and Trust Officer at TELUS, leading the team responsible for data and privacy governance, and supporting TELUS' commitment to integrity through various initiatives.
Peter Loewen
Professor, Department of Political Science; Director, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy; Associate Director, Schwartz Reisman Institute at University of Toronto
Peter Loewen is a professor of political science at the University of Toronto, director of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, and an associate director at the Schwartz Reisman Institute, with work appearing in numerous academic journals.
Philippe-André Rodriguez
Deputy Director, Center for International Digital Policy; Professor of Practice at Global Affairs Canada; McMaster University
Philippe-André Rodriguez is the deputy director of the Center for International Digital Policy at Global Affairs Canada and a professor of practice at McMaster University, acting as the head of the Canadian Delegation on processes related to the global governance of digital technologies.
Radhika Prabhune
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto
Radhika Prabhune is a Master of Health Science student in the Translational Research Program at the University of Toronto, focusing on the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare and medicine.
Randeep Nota
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
Randeep Nota is a PhD student focused on social justice in higher and adult education, working as an educational developer focusing on critical digital pedagogy.
Richard Watson
Associate Professor, Institute for Life Sciences and Department of Computer Science at University of Southampton
Richard Watson is an associate professor at the University of Southampton, focusing on the algorithmic concepts underlying major transitions in evolution and using connectionist models of cognition and learning.
Robert Seamans
Associate Professor, Stern School of Business at New York University
Robert Seamans is an associate professor at New York University's Stern School of Business, focusing on how firms use technology in their strategic interactions and the economic consequences of AI and robotics.
Sai-Amrit Maharaj
Translational Research Program, LMP, University of Toronto
Sai-Amrit Maharaj is pursuing a Master’s of Health Science in Translational Research at the University of Toronto, with a passion for patient-centered care and hopes to pursue a career in family medicine.
Sheila McIlraith
Professor, Department of Computer Science; Associate Director, Schwartz Reisman Institute; CIFAR AI Chair at University of Toronto
Sheila McIlraith is a professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto, focusing on AI sequential decision making through the lens of human-compatible AI.
Taylor Owen
Beaverbrook Chair in Media, Ethics and Communication; Director, Center for Media, Technology and Democracy at McGill University
Taylor Owen is the Beaverbrook Chair in Media, Ethics and Communications, founding director of the Center for Media, Technology and Democracy, and an associate professor in the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University.
Yisheng Li
Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University
Yisheng Li is pursuing a PhD in digital enterprise and social media at Toronto Metropolitan University, investigating conspiracy theories on social media platforms through computational social sciences.
Zihan (Ellis) Gao
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto
Zihan (Ellis) Gao is a Master of Health Science student in the Translational Research Program at the University of Toronto, focusing on the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare and medicine.
Event Details
- Date
- September 15-16, 2022
- 2 days
- Location
- 🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada
- Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus, University of Toronto
- Audience
- Academics, researchers, policymakers, industry professionals