Canadians’ enthusiastic dive into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) may be overlooking potential risks, warns a new study by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR).
While the nation is captivated by the allure of AI tools, there’s a pressing need for greater public literacy on the technology’s implications, leading CIFAR to launch a free online course, ‘Destination AI’.
On Tuesday, the agency announced the study titled “Incautiously Optimistic” which has shed light on Canadians’ enthusiastic yet potentially naive engagement with artificial intelligence (AI). The study found that there’s a notable lack of awareness about crucial ethical implications, such as fairness and bias.
The study’s release coincides with CIFAR’s launch of a free online course named Destination AI. Available in both French and English, this course is designed to elevate the public’s AI literacy.
CIFAR, a renowned global research organization, has been at the forefront of AI research and leads the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy.
Elissa Strome, the executive director of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy at CIFAR, emphasized the growing role of AI in our daily lives.
“Increasingly, AI technologies are being applied to decision-making processes that directly impact people, such as screening resumes, analyzing healthcare data, or assessing mortgage risk,” Strome said. She stressed the importance of Canadians developing a basic literacy on AI, given its expanding role in everyday life.
The research incorporated a national social listening audit that analyzed a staggering 6.9 million posts with AI mentions over a two-year period. It also examined AI-related online search queries spanning the past five years.
The results were intriguing: positive discourse about AI significantly outnumbered negative discussions. This positive sentiment was evident across all age demographics.
Notably, Quebecers were particularly active in AI discussions online, contributing 63 per cent almost double the AI conversation compared to other regions (32 per cent).
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Canadians may be experiencing ‘shiny object syndrome’ with artificial intelligence
For the study, researchers used NetBase Quid, an AI-driven market intelligence tool, to conduct a comprehensive audit of Canadian social media conversations about AI trends.
Key metrics such as mention volume, sentiment scores, engagement levels, reach and share of voice were meticulously tracked from Jan. 20, 2021-April 20, 2023.
Although pinpointing an exact margin of error is challenging, sentiment analysis tools typically boast accuracy rates between 70 per cent and 90 per cent. Additionally, the research incorporated data from Google Trends and the People Also Ask (PAA) feature, analyzing AI-related online queries by Canadians from April 20, 2017-April 20, 2023.
A trend highlighted by the study was the public’s “play mode” approach to AI. Canadians seem to be captivated by the allure of new AI tools, exhibiting what can be described as a “shiny object syndrome.”
For instance, searches for “ChatGPT” surpassed searches for “AI” this past spring.
However, crucial concerns like fairness, bias, and the ethical considerations essential for responsible AI deployment were conspicuously absent in the data.
To provide Canadians with a comprehensive understanding of AI, the “Destination AI” course offers teachings from global AI experts. The course includes insights from Yann LeCun, Chief AI Scientist at Meta, Julie Owono, Executive Director of Internet Without Borders and Stuart Russell, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
The course aims to demystify AI concepts, debunk prevalent myths, and showcase AI’s potential in sectors like disease prevention and environmental conservation.
In response to a recommendation from the Public Awareness Working Group of Canada’s Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence, CIFAR’s “Destination AI” course seeks to make AI literacy accessible to all Canadians.
The report also outlines action items to promote AI for the public good, emphasizing the need to counter AI system biases, enhance AI literacy, and encourage public engagement in AI policy and regulation development.
“Canadians can and should demand that companies and institutions deploy these technologies responsibly and safely, with rules enforced by our governments and regulatory bodies. To do this, we need an informed public, and this course is a step towards that,” reads the Incautiously Optimistic report.
