Ontario Tech Digital Life Institute Studies Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Schools

Ontario Tech University’s Digital Life Institute is examining the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation on fields including education and ethics, according to the university. Dr. Isabel Pedersen, Professor in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities and Director of the institute, said the introduction of AI tools such as large language models and GPT chatbots has required teachers to adjust rapidly. She also noted this shift often took place before guidelines for technology use could be established.

The role of new technologies in education and society has raised concerns about privacy, security, identity, the digital divide, and discrimination, as reported by Dr. Pedersen and the Digital Life Institute. She emphasized that future research should address how AI is used in schools and include the perspectives of underrepresented groups, such as Indigenous students.

According to the university, the Digital Life Institute collaborates with researchers at the University of Minnesota, Texas Tech University, and Temple University. Dr. Pedersen is scheduled to give a presentation at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia on Friday, March 7, focusing on the design of AI assistants intended to interpret human emotion. Ontario Tech University stated the event will address human empathy, persuasive systems, and designing AI systems that respond to emotions.

The Digital Life Institute was established in 2020 within Ontario Tech’s Faculty of Social Science and Humanities. According to the university, the institute includes 15 affiliated researchers from Ontario Tech faculties and an additional 40 researchers from other universities.