How the pioneering AI law enables the NGI’s aim of establishing key technological building blocks of tomorrow’s Internet and shaping the future Internet as an interoperable platform ecosystem that embodies the values that Europe holds dear: openness, inclusivity, transparency, privacy, cooperation, and protection of data.
Category: Topic: Public Policy
Research Topic: Public Policy
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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/
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Nature Opinion: The path for AI in poor nations does not need to be paved with billions
NATURE
Researchers in low- and middle-income countries show that home-grown artificial-intelligence technologies can be developed, even without large external investments.
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Presenting to the United Nations
Our Director, Tammy Mackenzie, was honoured to present our recommendations to the United Nations Committee on the Formation of a Scientific Panel on AI. We recommended that the committee include civil society in these works and that meetings should be held in countries where safe travel can be guaranteed for delegates. You can consult our recommendations here.
See the PDF of the Consultation here: Google Drive
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United Nations Commission on the creation of a Scientific Panel on AI
Presenting to the UN Committee on the formation of a Scientific Advisory Panel on AI. We also seconded calls by other presenters to ask the committee to move future convenings out of New York, so as to make it possible for delegates to attend from more countries, given the historical and current circumstances in the United States. Post: Consultation on the governance of the UN’s Scientific Advisory Panel on AI. Post on LinkedIn.
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United Nations Commission on the creation of a Scientific Panel on AI
Consultation on the governance of the UN’s Scientific Advsory Panel on AI. Posted on LinkedIn.
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Community energy justice: A review of origins, convergence, and a research agenda
The transition to zero‑carbon sustainable energy systems is critical and must take an equity-oriented approach to avoid exacerbating societal injustices. We explore the concept of “community” and its potential as a viable and effective tool for studying, understanding, and fostering justice and equity in energy transitions. This paper outlines community energy justice as an area of scholarship emerging through convergence around three key concepts: community, energy transition, and justice. Using a narrative literature review approach, we unpack the origins of community energy justice research, rooted in two scholarship pillars of energy justice and community energy. We outline four driving forces and two key approaches leading to convergence between both areas of scholarship. Encompassing energy transition initiatives that incorporate both justice and community themes, we find that the overarching objective …
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Les leviers du pouvoir dans l’IA
La camaraderie Aula est fièr de commanditer la conférence annuel la faculté du campus Saint Jean de l’Université de l’Alberta. Notre directrice, Tammy Mackenzie, y présente les leviers du pouvoir dans l’IA dans la société albertaine et de la francopĥonie. Le tout dans le but de remmettre le pouvoir décisionnel dans les mains des gens qui sont impliqués: nous tous.
Pour en savoir plus, voir: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/campus-saint-jean/congress/index.html
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Africa’s Energy Poverty in An Artificial Intelligence (AI) World: Struggle for Sustainable Development Goal 7
Energy poverty remains a significant challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where approximately 600 million people lack proper access to electricity. This paper examines the region’s current state of energy poverty, highlighting its socio-economic impacts and the barriers to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), which aims for affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030. Despite the region’s rich renewable energy potential, inadequate infrastructure, economic constraints, and governance issues continue to impede progress. This work employs a doctrinal research methodology, focusing on the critical analysis of existing legal and policy frameworks relevant to energy poverty and the integration of AI in energy management. This paper presents an overview of energy poverty in SSA, underpinned by current statistics and trends. It then examines the dual role of artificial intelligence (AI) and how it impacts this area: while AI technologies, through its data centre s, for example, significantly increase energy consumption, AI also offers innovative solutions for energy management, efficiency, and the integration of renewable energy sources. This paper critically analyzes these dynamics using Marxist and Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) frameworks to understand the broader socio-economic inequalities and global power dynamics at play. Major findings indicate that current policy frameworks are inadequate in addressing the unique challenges of energy poverty and the growing role of AI in the energy sector. The paper reviews existing policy and regulatory frameworks, identifying gaps and proposing actionable recommendations for integrating AI into policies to address energy poverty. It concludes with actionable policy recommendations to achieve a just and inclusive energy transition, contributing to the broader discourse on sustainable development and technological equity.
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Options and Motivations for International AI Benefit Sharing
Advanced AI systems could generate substantial economic and other societal benefits, but these benefits may not be widely shared by default. For a range of reasons, a number of prominent actors and institutions have called for efforts to expand access to AI’s benefits. In this report, we define the concept of international AI benefit sharing (“benefit sharing”) as efforts to support and accelerate international access to AI’s economic or broader societal benefits. Calls for benefit sharing typically invoke at least one of three motivations: 1) supporting inclusive economic growth and sustainable development, 2) fostering technological self-determination in low- and middle-income countries, and 3) advancing geopolitical objectives, including strengthening international partnerships on AI governance. Notably, as a subset of the third motive, some powerful actors – like the US government – may support benefit sharing as a tool to further their economic and national security interests. Benefit sharing could be implemented by (1) sharing AI resources (e.g., computing power or data), (2) expanding access to AI systems, or (3) transferring a portion of the financial proceeds from AI commercialisation or AI-driven economic growth. Depending on the objective that benefit sharing is intended to achieve, each of these approaches offers distinct opportunities and implementation challenges. These challenges include the potential for some benefit-sharing options to raise security concerns and increase certain global risks. Actors interested in benefit sharing may consider implementing low-risk forms of benefit sharing immediately, while launching cooperative international discussions to develop more comprehensive, mutually-beneficial initiatives.