IVADO will participate in the Science Summit during the United Nations General Assembly to discuss responsible AI development in an urban context

Montreal, August 6, 2024 – IVADO, an artificial intelligence consortium based at  Université de Montréal and bringing together 4 university partners (Polytechnique Montréal, HEC Montréal, Université Laval and McGill University) announces its participation in the Scientific Summit during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) as part of the session entitled “Responsible artificial intelligence in an urban context: Using data to make cities more inclusive, resilient and sustainable.” Catherine Régis, IVADO’s Director of Social Innovation and International Policy and a full professor at Université de Montréal Faculty of Law, will be speaking on September 25, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. on this topic that is central to the development of responsible AI.

In this session organized by Professor Catherine Régis, speakers from four continents representing academia, the private sector and governments will share their knowledge on applied AI-driven urban projects. The main objective will be to explore how AI can improve the well-being of urban residents across different dimensions, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.

In particular, this session will aim to demonstrate that only human-centered approaches, knowledge mobilization strategies and collaboration with local stakeholders will ensure the effective and responsible use of AI in/by cities. It also aims to share best practices and inspire collaborative action to build more resilient, inclusive and sustainable urban futures.

Professor Catherine Régis will discuss her work on AI governance including participation as an expert in the Global Partnership on AI and the UNESCO Advisory Committee on AI and the Rule of Law. Her research projects focus on the regulation of AI in healthcare systems and the integration of human rights in global AI governance. As such, they are perfectly aligned with the broader goals of SDG 11.

One of its current initiatives, IA Urbaine, is a pilot project in Montreal that seeks to identify ethical and inclusive ways of using AI to address the priority needs of residents (such as improving the discoverability of services, access to affordable housing or bridging the digital divide). This project was recently featured on the online platform Digital Help Desk for Cities (UN-Habitat).

For further information, please contact: Antoine Congost, Senior Coordinator, Knowledge Mobilization and Social Innovation, IVADO, antoine.congost@ivado.ca