Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving at a rapid pace. To turn it into a driver of economic and social development that is both powerful and ethical, AI must be seen not merely as a technological tool, but as a collective lever for transformation.
It is in this spirit that IVADO leads R3AI – Robust, Reasoning and Responsible Artificial Intelligence, a large-scale initiative designed to reshape the scientific, technological and ethical foundations of AI.
A More Robust AI
AI systems must become more robust, that is, able to adapt quickly and adequately to new contexts. Currently, digital tools meet expectations in familiar environments, but their performance decreases when faced with new situations. For example, AI models designed for supply chain management before the pandemic failed during the health crisis, and a self-driving car trained in Canada poses risks in the United Kingdom.
A More Reasoning AI
Current AI does not understand the world and cannot explain its decisions, which can lead to erroneous diagnoses and inappropriate treatment recommendations in healthcare, due to its difficulty in distinguishing correlation from causation. The lack of transparency makes these errors difficult to detect. By developing algorithms similar to the functioning of the human brain, these problems can be addressed.
A More Responsible AI
If we want to change the world with AI, AI systems must become more responsible. They often produce discriminatory results due to biases in training data, disrupt the labour market, and have a high environmental cost. To overcome these challenges, AI must be developed and deployed in an ethical, inclusive and fair manner, taking into account marginalized communities, vulnerable populations and environmental impact.
Deploying R3AI
The R3AI project promotes synergy among all stakeholders capable of creating AI truly centered on human needs and ensuring its full adoption.
IVADO strengthens multidisciplinarity by bringing together specialists in machine learning, cognitive science, linguistics, health, logistics, sociology and law. This integrated approach makes it possible to develop innovative AI solutions.
IVADO supports Québec and Canadian organizations wishing to adopt AI by assisting them in ambitious collaborative research projects and accelerating the training of their personnel. This initiative aims to propel the AI sector and maximize its benefits.
IVADO places particular emphasis on the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). By adopting a co-construction approach with groups affected by AI, including Indigenous Peoples and underrepresented groups, IVADO aims to ensure that AI applications benefit society as a whole.