NATURE
Researchers in low- and middle-income countries show that home-grown artificial-intelligence technologies can be developed, even without large external investments.
Category: 4/ Fellow”s Projects
Aula Fellow Project
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PARADIM: A Platform to Support Research at the Interface of Data Science and Medical Imaging
This paper describes PARADIM, a digital infrastructure designed to support research at the interface of data science and medical imaging, with a focus on Research Data Management best practices. The platform is built from open-source components and rooted in the FAIR principles through strict compliance with the DICOM standard. It addresses key needs in data curation, governance, privacy, and scalable resource management. Supporting every stage of the data science discovery cycle, the platform offers robust functionalities for user identity and access management, data de-identification, storage, annotation, as well as model training and evaluation. Rich metadata are generated all along the research lifecycle to ensure the traceability and reproducibility of results. PARADIM hosts several medical image collections and allows the automation of large-scale, computationally intensive pipelines (e.g., automatic segmentation, dose calculations, AI model evaluation). The platform fills a gap at the interface of data science and medical imaging, where digital infrastructures are key in the development, evaluation, and deployment of innovative solutions in the real world.
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Saptarishi Futures: An Indian Intergenerational Wayfinding Framework
An Intergenerational Future Study model contextualized within Indian mythology, folklore, and generational value systems. This fusion explores ancient cultural wisdom and modern anticipatory governance to imagine just, inclusive, and regenerative futures across generations.
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Shifting the Gaze? Photojournalism Practices in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
In this article, we explore the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies on photojournalism in less-researched contexts in Botswana and Zimbabwe. We aim to understand how AI technologies, proliferating aspects of news production, are impacting one of journalism’s respected and enduring trades- photojournalism. We answer the question: In what ways are AI-driven technologies impacting photojournalism practices? Furthermore, we investigate how photojournalists perceive their roles and the ethical considerations that come to the fore as AI begin to technically influence photojournalism. We deploy an eclectic analytical framework consisting of the critical technology theory, disruptive innovation theory and Baudrillard’s concept of simulation to theorise how AI technologies affect photojournalism in Botswana and Zimbabwe. Data were collected using in-depth interviews with practising photojournalists and …
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The philanthrocapitalism of google news initiative in Africa, Latin America, and the middle east–empirical reflections
In recent years, media organizations globally have increasingly benefited from financial support from digital platforms. In 2018, Google launched the Google News Initiative (GNI) Innovation Challenge aimed at bolstering journalism by encouraging innovation in media organizations. This study, conducted through 36 in-depth interviews with GNI beneficiaries in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, reveals that despite its narrative of enhancing technological innovation for the media’s future, this scheme inadvertently fosters dependence and extends the philanthrocapitalism concept to the media industry on a global scale. Employing a theory-building approach, our research underscores the emergence of a new form of ‘philanthrocapitalism’ that prompts critical questions about the dependency of media organizations on big tech and the motives of these tech giants in their evolving relationship with such institutions. We also demonstrate that the GNI Innovative Challenge, while ostensibly promoting sustainable business models through technological innovation, poses challenges for organizations striving to sustain and develop these projects. The proposed path to sustainability by the GNI is found to be indirect and difficult for organizations to navigate, hindering their adoption of new technologies. Additionally, the study highlights the creation of a dependency syndrome among news organizations, driven by the perception that embracing GNI initiatives is crucial for survival in the digital age. Ultimately, the research contributes valuable insights to the understanding of these issues, aiming to raise awareness among relevant stakeholders and conceptualize philanthrocapitalism through a new lens.
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Whole-Person Education for AI Engineers: Presented to CEEA (Peer Reviewed)
This autoethnographic study explores the need for interdisciplinary education spanning both technical an philosophical skills – as such, this study leverages whole-person education as a theoretical approach needed in AI engineering education to address the limitations of current paradigms that prioritize technical expertise over ethical and societal considerations. Drawing on a collaborative autoethnography approach of fourteen diverse stakeholders, the study identifies key motivations driving the call for change, including the need for global perspectives, bridging the gap between academia and industry, integrating ethics and societal impact, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. The findings challenge the myths of technological neutrality and technosaviourism, advocating for a future where AI engineers are equipped not only with technical skills but also with the ethical awareness, social responsibility, and interdisciplinary understanding necessary to navigate the complex challenges of AI development. The study provides valuable insights and recommendations for transforming AI engineering education to ensure the responsible development of AI technologies.
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WIP: Gen AI in Engineering Education and the Da Vinci Cube (Peer Reviewed)
As generative AI (GenAI) tools rapidly transform the engineering landscape, a critical question emerges: Are current educational innovations adequately preparing engineers for the socio-technical challenges of the future? This work-in-progress paper presents two key contributions. First, we build on prior work presenting a systematic review of over 160 scholarly articles on GenAI implementations in engineering education, revealing a predominant focus on enhancing technical proficiency while often neglecting essential socio-technical competencies. Second, we apply an emerging framework—the da Vinci Cube (dVC)—to support engineering educators in critically evaluating GenAI-driven innovations. The dVC framework extends traditional models of innovation by incorporating three dimensions: the pursuit of knowledge, consideration of use, and contemplation of sentiment. Our analysis suggests that while GenAI tools can improve problem-solving and technical efficiency, engineering education must also address ethical, human-centered, and societal impacts. The dVC framework provides a structured lens for assessing how GenAI tools are integrated into curricula and research, encouraging a more holistic, reflective approach. Ultimately, this paper aims to provoke dialogue on the future of engineering education and to challenge the prevailing assumption that technical skill development alone is sufficient in an AI-mediated world.
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Work in Progress: Exclusive Rhetoric in AI Conference Mission Statements
AI conferences are pivotal spaces for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and shaping the trajectory of research, practice, and education. This paper presents preliminary findings from an analysis of AI conference mission statements, investigating how their stated goals affect who is welcomed into AI conversations. We find that many mission statements reflect assumptions that may unintentionally narrow participation and reinforce disciplinary and institutional silos. This limits engagement from a broad range of contributors—including educators, students, working professionals, and even younger users —who are essential to a thriving AI ecosystem. We advocate for clearer framing that supports democratizing and demystifying AI. By broadening participation and intentionally fostering cross-sector and interdisciplinary connections, AI conferences can help unlock more innovation.
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Yakshi: A Transmedia Narrative Exploration
At Smart Story Labs, we are excited to announce a new GitHub project that dives into the transmedia narrative of Yakshi – reimagining this South Asian folklore spirit as a lens to explore cross-cultural storytelling, feminist hauntings, and ecological narratives.
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Towards Real Diversity and Gender Equality in Artificial Intelligence
This is an Advancement Report for the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) project “Towards Real Diversity and Gender Equality in Artificial Intelligence: Evidence-Based Promising Practices and Recommendations.” It describes, at a high level, the strategy, approach, and progress of the project thus far in its efforts to provide governments and other stakeholders of the artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem with recommendations, tools, and promising practices to integrate Diversity and Gender Equality (DGE) considerations into the AI life cycle and related policy-making. The report starts with an overview of the human rights perspective, which serves as the framework upon which this project is building. By acknowledging domains where AI systems can pose risks and harms to global populations, and further, where they pose disproportionate risks and harms to women and other marginalized populations due to a lack of consideration for these groups throughout the AI life cycle, the need to address such inequalities becomes clear.
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Literacy Nova Scotia: AI Literacy
Catch the exclusive recording of Tammy Mackenzie’s keynote speech from this year’s Spring Dinner and Auction for Literacy, presented by Lockheed Martin Canada. As the Executive Director and co-founder of the Aula Fellowship, a think tank that focuses on applied artificial intelligence (AI), ethics, and system transitions, Tammy shares her expertise on the rapidly evolving field of AI.
In this thought-provoking presentation, Tammy dives deep into the ethical implications and transformative potential of AI in our society. She examines how AI is shaping industries, education, and communities, while addressing the need for responsible and human-centered innovation.
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Pre-conference workshop: Université de l’Alberta Conférence Annuelle
We were pleased to sponsor the 2025 Campus St Jean Annual Conference of the University of Alberta. Two Aula Fellows were present, and offered a workshop for faculty. The event was well attended. As Fellows, we were happy to receive feedback that the workshop empowered faculty to continue conversations on the complexities of AI in society and at the University, outside the conference and into their fields of work. Some of the attendees have since joined us as Fellows.