The Public Awareness Working Group (Working Group) was launched in 2020 under Canada's Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence with a mandate to examine avenues to boost public awareness and foster trust in AI. The objective is to help Canadians have a more grounded conversation around AI, and help citizens better understand the technology, its potential uses, and its associated risks.
Through a partnership with the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), and Algora Lab (University of Montreal), the Working Group conducted a series of virtual workshops across Canada designed to engage in discussions with the public on perceptions of artificial intelligence. The Open Dialogue: Artificial Intelligence in Canada workshops were carried out in a virtual format and reached over four hundred participants. Significant focus was directed towards achieving regional representativeness as well as inclusivity of marginalized populations and youth participants. The workshops took place from March 30 to May 13, 2021
The Working Group published a report on its public engagement activities in February 2023. A further report will follow on the Working Group’s engagement with Indigenous communities.