Black Futures by Design. Advancing Racial Justice in Canada’s AI Governance.

Last summer, I had the opportunity to participate in a national expert convening on AI governance hosted by Professor Jake at Toronto Metropolitan University. The convening brought together lawyers, policymakers, researchers, academics, technologists, artists, and community leaders from across Canada to discuss a question that remains just as relevant today: How do we ensure artificial intelligence advances justice rather than reproduces inequality?

I was grateful to contribute to the discussions that informed the report, Black Futures by Design: Advancing Racial Justice in Canada’s AI Governance. One message from both the discussions and the report resonates with me is that “AI is not neutral”.
 
AI systems learn from human choices, including what data we collect/input, whose experiences are represented, what outcomes we prioritize, and how systems are designed. When those choices reflect existing inequities, AI can reproduce and even amplify them. That is why AI governance is also a human rights concern.

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into healthcare, hiring, education, immigration, public services, and our daily work, we should continue asking the following questions:

• Who could be disproportionately affected?

• How are bias and discrimination being identified and addressed?

• Who is accountable when technology causes harm?

• What does the ethical use of AI look like in practice?

Responsible use of AI should be measured not only by efficiency or innovation, but by whether it protects dignity, advances fairness and equity, and earns public trust.

Thank you, Professor Jake Effoduh, for your leadership in AI governance, legal education, and scholarship, and for bringing together such a thoughtful group of contributors.

If you are curious to learn more, here is the link to the full report: Black Futures by Design. Advancing Racial Justice in Canada’s AI Governance.

#ArtificialIntelligence #ResponsibleAI #HumanRights #AIGovernance #Healthcare #TechnologyLaw #PublicPolicy #FutureOfWork