Canadian AI Association

The Canadian Artificial Intelligence Association (CAIAC), also known in French as Association pour l'Intelligence Artificielle au Canada, is an organisation of Canadian AI researchers. Its primary focus is promoting AI research, education, and outreach within the Canadian AI community. CAIAC organises the annual Canadian Conference on Artificial Intelligence, which brings together researchers and graduate students from both academic and industrial sectors. They also sponsor the scientific journal Computational Intelligence and offer expert advice to governments upon request.

CAIAC’s leadership team consists of Sébastien Gambs (President), Luiza Antonie (Treasurer), Mark Crowley (Secretary), Gabriel Murray (Online Presence Officer), and Richard Khoury (Past President). The Vice-President position is currently vacant. CAIAC is guided by a constitution that outlines its purpose of promoting AI education and research, along with organising conferences, facilitating the publication of research, and maintaining relationships with governments and industries.

The Executive Committee manages the organisation, including overseeing officer elections and the Annual General Meeting (AGM), where members can participate in elections and decisions.

CAIAC is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, recognising the social and ethical risks of AI development. It promotes diversity in education, research, and industry and advocates for the responsible development of AI technologies.

The association’s notable awards include the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising outstanding research in AI, and the Distinguished Service Award, honouring exceptional service to the Canadian AI community. They also award the Best Doctoral Dissertation and Best Master's Thesis for exemplary academic work. Past awardees include renowned AI researchers like Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio.

CAIAC is also involved in promoting AI research through various publications, including the Canadian Artificial Intelligence Magazine and The CAIAC Herald.

The Canadian Artificial Intelligence Association (CAIAC) has its origins in the early 1970s when Canadian AI researchers began organising to promote collaborate and support AI research. In 1973, a workshop for Canadian AI researchers was held at the University of Western Ontario, bringing together various experts to discuss topics related to mathematical studies, psychological modelling, and image processing. This workshop led to the establishment of the Canadian Society for Computational Studies of Intelligence (CSCSI/SCEIO), which became the first national AI organisation in the world.

The founding executive committee included Ted Elcock, John Hart, Ray Reiter, and other key figures. In 1976, the first formal CSCSI/SCEIO conference was held at the University of British Columbia, and it quickly became a regular biennial event. In 1980, CSCSI/SCEIO was legally incorporated under Ontario law, and the organisation’s first joint newsletter with other societies was published. Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, CSCSI/SCEIO played a crucial role in building a collaborative AI research community in Canada.

In 1985, CSCSI/SCEIO sponsored the launch of Computational Intelligence, a scientific journal still published today. During this period, the organisation also supported various research workshops and events, such as the Theoretical Approaches to Natural Language Understanding workshop in Halifax in 1985.

The society changed its name to the Canadian Artificial Intelligence Association (CAIAC) in 2008 to better reflect its focus and mandate. A competition was held to redesign the organisation’s logo, with a winning entry from Juan Beltran of the University of Toronto. Since then, CAIAC has continued to grow, expanding its efforts in AI research, education, and outreach.

CAIAC's main activity is the organisation of the annual Canadian Conference on Artificial Intelligence, which has been held annually since 2000. The event brings together researchers and graduate students from across Canada, showcasing original work in both theoretical and applied AI. CAIAC also maintains strong ties with other conferences, such as the Computer and Robot Vision (CRV) conference.

In addition to its conferences, CAIAC offers several prestigious awards. These include the Lifetime Achievement Award, which honours significant contributions to AI research, the Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service to the Canadian AI community, and awards for Best Doctoral Dissertation and Best Master's Thesis in AI. Notable recipients include Geoffrey Hinton, Yoshua Bengio, and Sheila McIlraith, highlighting CAIAC’s recognition of groundbreaking work in AI.

CAIAC is also dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the AI research community. The organisation’s statement on responsible AI acknowledges the ethical and social risks associated with AI technologies. CAIAC emphasises the need for greater representation of traditionally underrepresented groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, and LGBTQ2+ communities, within the AI community.

In its current structure, CAIAC is led by an executive committee, with Sébastien Gambs serving as the President, Luiza Antonie as the Treasurer, Mark Crowley as the Secretary, Gabriel Murray as the Online Presence Officer, and Richard Khoury as the Past President. The Vice-President position remains vacant.

In 2024, CAIAC continues its work by organising the 37th Canadian AI Conference, scheduled to take place at the University of Guelph. This event will feature the presentation of awards, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Sheila McIlraith and Dr. Ali A. Ghorbani, and the Best Doctoral Dissertation and Best Master's Thesis awards. CAIAC also continues its outreach through various publications, including The CAIAC Herald and Canadian AI Magazine, which keep the community updated on developments in AI research in Canada.

As of 2024, CAIAC remains dedicated to advancing AI research, supporting educational activities, and fostering a diverse, inclusive AI community in Canada. Its mission continues to focus on promoting excellence in AI through conferences, publications, and collaboration with government and industry.

The Canadian Artificial Intelligence Association (CAIAC) has clear goals and purposes that guide its activities. The main purpose of CAIAC is to promote education and research in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) across Canada. To achieve this, the organisation focuses on several key areas:

• Organising Conferences: CAIAC hosts the annual Canadian Conference on Artificial Intelligence. This event brings together researchers, graduate students, and industry professionals from across Canada to share their work, learn from each other, and advance AI research. The conference has become a key gathering for the Canadian AI community.
• Supporting Research and Publications: CAIAC sponsors the scientific journal Computational Intelligence, which publishes original AI research. The organisation encourages the dissemination of AI knowledge by supporting the publication of research work, helping to ensure that new findings reach both the academic community and the public.
• Providing Education and Outreach: CAIAC is committed to AI education, both within academic institutions and through outreach activities. It supports youth programmes that introduce students to AI, aiming to develop the next generation of AI researchers and professionals. Additionally, CAIAC fosters public understanding of AI by publishing editorials and offering advice on AI-related matters.
• Offering Scientific Advice: CAIAC provides expert guidance to governments when requested, helping to shape policy and decision-making related to AI. This role ensures that AI development in Canada is informed by cutting-edge research and ethical considerations.
• Promoting Diversity and Responsible AI: CAIAC recognises the ethical and social risks associated with AI and is committed to promoting fairness and diversity in the AI field. It works to increase representation from underrepresented groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, and other minorities, within AI research and education.

The Canadian AI Association (CAIAC) has made a significant impact on the advancement of artificial intelligence research and education in Canada. By organising the annual Canadian Conference on Artificial Intelligence, the association has provided a platform for researchers, students, and professionals to share their knowledge and collaborate. This has led to important discoveries and developments in both theoretical and applied AI, helping Canada become a leader in the global AI community.

CAIAC also plays a vital role in supporting AI education by fostering a new generation of researchers and professionals. Through its outreach programs and partnerships with universities, the association encourages young people to explore AI and provides opportunities for them to develop their skills.

In addition, CAIAC promotes responsible AI development by addressing the ethical and social risks that AI can present. The association advocates for diversity and inclusion in the AI field, ensuring that traditionally underrepresented groups, such as women, Indigenous Peoples, and minorities, have opportunities to participate in AI research and development.

By publishing important AI research and providing expert advice to governments, CAIAC contributes to shaping AI policy in Canada, ensuring that AI technologies are developed with ethics, inclusivity, and innovation at the forefront.