REGINA — Artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction. It is already shaping classrooms, workplaces and entire industries. This week in Regina, experts from across Canada are gathering to explore what that means for the future.
From March 11 to 13, the University of Regina will host the first AI Futures event, a three-day gathering focused on how artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming research, education and society.
The event brings together researchers, industry leaders, community organizations and the public for conversations that range from hands-on demonstrations to deeper discussions about ethics, education and the future of work.
Organizers say the goal is simple but urgent: help people understand the technology that is rapidly reshaping their lives.
“AI is affecting everybody’s life in a variety of different ways,” said Brett Waytuck, dean of University Libraries and Archives at the University of Regina. “We wanted to come together as a community, both on campus and beyond it, to have a conversation about what that means looking into the future.
Three days, three big conversations
The conference is structured around three themes that move from exploration to bigger societal questions.
Day one, called Experience AI, focuses on imagination and hands-on discovery. Visitors will be able to interact with artificial intelligence tools and explore creative uses of machine learning through demonstrations and interactive exhibits.
Christina Hwang, associate dean academic at the University Library and Archives, said the goal is to make AI approachable for people who may feel uncertain about it.
“It creates a very low barrier for those who are potentially afraid of AI or who don’t have a lot of experience with it,” she said. “It’s a fun way to learn and see what AI can do.”
The day will also feature opening speaker Mark Daley, Western University’s first chief AI officer and a researcher in neural computation.
Day two turns the focus to AI in Academia, examining how the technology is changing teaching, learning and research at universities.
Presentations will highlight how researchers are using AI to analyze large datasets, identify patterns in complex information and support discoveries in fields such as health sciences and environmental research.
But the discussions will also address the challenges.
“We know that students will be using AI to support their studies,” Waytuck said. “Some of that will be appropriate use, but some of it may be inappropriate use. We want to have a conversation about how we move forward in a good way.”
The day will also feature lightning-round presentations focused on the theme of human-AI co-creation in academia.
The final day, titled AI and Society, broadens the conversation to the wider impact of artificial intelligence.
Sessions will explore issues such as bias in automated systems, ethical development, public policy and how communities can shape the direction of emerging technology.
The day will begin with a keynote presentation from Ross Pambrun, a Métis entrepreneur and CEO of The Memphis Group, an artificial intelligence company focused on using technology to help protect communities from environmental threats.
Waytuck said perspectives like that are critical as the technology continues to evolve.
“We want to build a future where AI reflects the values that the university stands for,” he said. “Not just the values of the companies that are building it.”
Why the conversation matters
Artificial intelligence has moved into everyday life at remarkable speed.
AI systems now assist doctors analyzing medical images, help farmers monitor crops from space, power translation tools used by millions and generate text, images and video in seconds.
Economists estimate the technology could add trillions of dollars to the global economy in the coming decade while dramatically changing how organizations operate and how people work.
At the same time, experts warn that AI raises major questions about misinformation, privacy, job disruption and the risk of bias in automated decision-making systems.
For Waytuck, universities play a critical role in navigating those challenges.
“If universities are not leading those discussions, then we will be subject to them and someone else will be making the decisions for us,” he said.
A conversation just beginning
AI Futures is open to the public and free to attend. Organizers say they hope the event attracts not only researchers and students, but also community members curious about how artificial intelligence could shape their future.
For the University of Regina, the three-day gathering is meant to spark an ongoing conversation about technology that will influence nearly every aspect of modern life.
“I think the real hope is that it starts a conversation,” Waytuck said.
People may arrive with excitement about what artificial intelligence can achieve. Others may come with concerns about how quickly the technology is advancing.
Either way, the goal is the same – to make sure the future of AI is shaped not just by technology, but by the people who will live with it.
People can reserve a spot for one or all three days on the reservation page.
