Category: Sector: Economy

Hard Questions: Economy

  • Call for Book Chapters: OUR AI PROBLEMS

    Call for Book Chapters: OUR AI PROBLEMS

    Call for Book Chapters: Our AI Problems (Edited Volume)

    We believe that there are no easy answers when it comes to artificial intelligence and society. Across jurisdictions and decision-making bodies, those who develop or enforce regulations are confronted with difficult questions. These challenges arise for many reasons: the issues are often embedded in complex sociotechnical systems, lack straightforward solutions, or involve tensions between competing values and needs.

    The editors hold that AI can be of great service for humanity. At the same time, current regulatory frameworks lag far behind what is needed to ensure just, safe, and equitable access and outcomes. 

    Policymakers and subject-matter specialists are increasingly converging on a shared set of especially challenging issues.  Society is learning to join in the conversations. Accordingly, the proposed volume is envisioned as addressing the following areas: Economics and Power; Democracy and Trust; Risks Large and Small; Building Bridges and Inclusion; Media and Art; Environment and Health; Justice, Security, and Defense.

    If you are interested in contributing, we would be delighted to hear from you. If you know colleagues or collaborators who might wish to participate, please feel free to share this call with them as well.

    Deadline for chapter abstracts (250–300 words): 15 January 2026
    Deadline for chapter draft submission (8000–10,000 words; US English; APA style): 31 March 2026
    Deadline for final revisions: 15 May 2026

    Edited by Tammy Mackenzie, Ashley Elizabeth Muller, and Branislav Radeljić

    For more info about the editors, please see: Fellows
    Submissions and questions: Contact Branislav Radeljić, Ph.D., Director of Research.

  • ISED Canada Consultation to Define the Next Chapter of Canada’s AI leadership

    ISED Canada Consultation to Define the Next Chapter of Canada’s AI leadership

    Aula Fellows contributed to the recent consultation on the government of Canada’s AI Strategy. Our principle recommendations are that the government needs to empower civil society inclusion in decision making and support small businesses. These will ensure not just social acceptability, but also fiscal and technical fit-to-purpose.

    Read the full consultation document here.

  • A Response to Government of Canada’s AI Strategy Task Force

    A Response to Government of Canada’s AI Strategy Task Force

    The Aula Fellowship is proud to join over 40 civil advocacy organizations in an open letter to the government of Canada. Let’s lead the world in crafting tech governance that works for all. Thank you to Alex Tveit of the Sustainable Impact Foundation for intellectual and operational leadership in this space.

    See more on LinkedIn

  • State of AI Policy in Africa 2025

    State of AI Policy in Africa 2025

    Robert’s perspective is featured by the report authors; emphasis on transparent, sovereign AI infrastructure.

    See the Report here.

  • AIMS Hackathon Against Modern Slavery

    AIMS Hackathon Against Modern Slavery

    We are proud to announce that an Aula Team has joined the AIMS Hackathon 2025: AI Against Modern Slavery in Supply Chains. This is an issue that touches everyone on earth, and that everyone can take part in fixing.

    We will be examining problems in this space and, among other things, an open data set of 15,000+ annual corporate reports and Walk Free’s Global Slavery Index, for ways to identify, mitigate, and eradicate modern slavery.

    We are seeing what we can do to help. How do you see it? Want to check out the data and let us know? We’ll be sharing, returning, and building collaborations. Thank you and all honour to the Hackathon conveners, and director Adriana Eufrosina Bora:

    Fundación Pasos Libres: project link https://lnkd.in/gdsczfKc
    Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute: project link also includes links to all of the open data sets and studies done so far: https://lnkd.in/dAApAvqu
    QUT (Queensland University of Technology) (QUT): https://lnkd.in/ehG66MXs

    The business reports database on GitHub, built and hosted by The Future Society: https://lnkd.in/eUa6an9s

    There’s a world-class group of trainers. Numerous other partners are providing support, including The Future Society, Walk Free, UNESCO, the International Committee of the Red Cross – ICRC, Australian Red Cross, and governments of Australia, Canada, the UK. And many more to come.

    Get to the heart of the matter by hearing from survivors: Faith, Love, and Human Trafficking: The Story of Karola De la Cuesta. On Goodreads and available at most online retailers in EN and SP (ask your library): https://lnkd.in/eitSUk4c

    If like us you are also working on these issues, we welcome your interest in potential collaborations. Check out “How to Get Involved”.

    Infographic from Respect International: https://lnkd.in/exRb_NNA

    AIMS Hackathon

  • Tech Tool: the Survivor’s Dashboard

    Tech Tool: the Survivor’s Dashboard

    A dashboard of curated information for survivor’s of modern slavery and the people who work to rescue others. This tool is available for collaborations. Please contact our Technical Director, François Pelletier, for more information.

  • WiCyS Vulnerability Disclosure Program

    WiCyS Vulnerability Disclosure Program

    Proud and happy to see that our Fellow, cybersecurity specialist Temitope Banjo-CISM will be joining Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS)’s Vulnerability Disclosure Program.

  • The Architecture of Responsible AI: Balancing Innovation and Accountability

    The Architecture of Responsible AI: Balancing Innovation and Accountability

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a key factor driving change in industries, organizations, and society. While technological capabilities advance rapidly, the mechanisms guiding AI implementation reveal critical structural flaws (Closing the AI accountability gap). There lies an opportunity to architect a future where we can collaboratively design systems that leverage AI to augment human capabilities while upholding ethical integrity.

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  • Democracy Dialogues Lead Boldly, Inspire Globally: Meet the 2025-2026 Obama Foundation Scholars

    Democracy Dialogues Lead Boldly, Inspire Globally: Meet the 2025-2026 Obama Foundation Scholars

    Quoting from the organizers: “In a moment that former President Barack Obama describes as a “political crisis of the sort that we haven’t seen before,” we are proud to welcome the 2025–2026 Obama Foundation Scholars to the TMU campus for a special in-person episode of our Democracy Dialogues series. With three Canadians among this year’s global cohort—Victoria Kuketz (TMU’s own), Khalid Hashi, and Michelle Cartier—this is a rare chance to meet inspiring leaders working across disciplines, borders, and systems to develop solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our times.

    Open to students, community members, and leaders from across all sectors, this event is an opportunity to engage with the Obama Scholars, and reflect on how each of us can respond to the crisis we are experiencing. Engage in meaningful discussion, connect with the next generation of global leaders, and consider the kind of world we want to build – now.

    Be part of a conversation on transforming trust into action and participation into impact.

    Learn more about the Obama Foundation Scholars here and the Democratic Engagement Exchange here.

    About Democracy Dialogues:

    Democracy Dialogues is a public conversation series hosted by the Democratic Engagement Exchange at TMU. Each episode brings together thought leaders and community voices to explore the challenges and possibilities of building a more inclusive and resilient democracy.”

    See the event recording here: https://www.torontomu.ca/arts/news-events/2025/10/democracy-dialogues-lead-boldly–inspire-globally–meet-the-2025/

  • Beyond mere automation: A techno-functional framework for reimagining gen-AI in supply chain operations

    Beyond mere automation: A techno-functional framework for reimagining gen-AI in supply chain operations

    As Generative AI (Gen-AI) continues to evolve rapidly, its potential to transform supply chain operations remains largely unexplored. Narrowing in on retail supply chain, this paper presents a taxonomy diagram that categorizes trends in Gen-AI adoption across various functions thereby mapping current Gen-AI capabilities and identifying immediate opportunities and potential challenges. We identify several key patterns in Gen-AI integration, including the automation of routine cognitive tasks, and enhancement of human decision-making capabilities. We posit that while Gen-AI shows immense promise in improving supply chain efficiency and resilience, successful implementation requires careful consideration of existing workflows, user capabilities, and organizational readiness. Finally, we present a cohesive vision for scaling Gen-AI in Supply Chain operations. Ultimately, this position paper provides insights for both practitioners looking to implement Gen-AI solutions and researchers exploring the future of AI in and for supply chain management.

    Read the full workshop report here.

  • Developing the Permanent Symposium on AI (poster): Presented at Engineering and Public Policy Division (EPP) Poster Session

    Developing the Permanent Symposium on AI (poster): Presented at Engineering and Public Policy Division (EPP) Poster Session

    A multidisciplinary, reflective autoethnography by some of the people who are building the Permanent Symposium on AI. Includes the history of the project.

    RQ 1: Challenges that unite AI policy & tech

    RQ 2: How to design the PSAI?

    RQ 3: What factors influence the adoption and scalability of the PSAI?

    This is the Flagship project of the Aula Fellowship.

    Read the Poster

  • Work in Progress: Exclusive Rhetoric in AI Conference Mission Statements

    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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