Through R3AI, IVADO is bringing together a unique ecosystem of research and innovation to transform AI into a robust, reasoning, and responsible force capable of addressing the societal, economic, and environmental challenges of our time. This flagship scientific program is supported by the Apogée Canada Research Excellence Fund.
Understanding the 3 Rs
Robust AI
AI systems must become more robust than they are today. In other words, they must be able to adapt quickly and appropriately to new contexts.
Reasoning AI
AI must develop its understanding of the world and be able to explain its decisions and the processes that led to them. By developing algorithms that mimic the functioning of the human brain, we can significantly facilitate the deployment of AI systems and build trust in them.
Responsible AI
AI must be developed and deployed in an ethical, inclusive, and equitable manner, taking into account societal impacts such as environmental costs, the weakening of the labor market, representativeness, and so on. Only then can it become a true driver of transformation that benefits society as a whole.
Scientific Mission
Advancing the Science of AI
Advancing AI requires rethinking its scientific foundations, not just refining its applications. With R3AI, IVADO draws on a diverse range of disciplines (computer science, neuroscience, natural and social sciences, and the humanities) to make AI more resilient in the face of the unexpected, capable of reasoning, and designed responsibly.
AI for the Benefit of Science
AI is also being deployed as a research tool. Through R3AI, IVADO aims to promote the development of AI as a scientific tool to accelerate discovery in fields such as health, materials and molecules, and the environment, by pushing the boundaries of knowledge across disciplines.
Adoption and Development
Innovation and Commercialization
R3AI works with partners across all sectors to turn innovations into deployable solutions that drive sustainable growth, equity, and inclusion.
Social Innovation
IVADO promotes knowledge sharing between the research community and civil society to make AI a positive driver of development. By empowering individuals, organizations, and public institutions, IVADO encourages the informed and responsible adoption of AI for the common good.
Social Responsibility, EDI, and Indigenous Engagement
R3AI is based on a collaborative approach developed with Indigenous communities and underrepresented groups. Equity, diversity, inclusion, and a meaningful commitment to Indigenous peoples guide the program’s research design and culture.
The Origins of R3AI
R3AI’s vision is rooted in the experience IVADO has accumulated since its founding in 2016, when the Université de Montréal, Polytechnique Montréal, and HEC Montréal, under the leadership of founding scientific director Yoshua Bengio, brought together internationally recognized teams in data science and deep learning. Through its work with hundreds of partner organizations, IVADO observed the practical limitations of AI as it was being deployed at the time: inflexible in the face of the unexpected, unable to justify its decisions, and adopted without sufficient consideration of its repercussions. It was this real-world experience, rather than an abstract prediction, that led to R3AI. Since then, the rapid rise of foundational models and agent-based systems has only confirmed the relevance of this vision, continued under the scientific direction of Aaron Courville.