The development and adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the most recent advances in machine learning are provoking a vast geotechnological restructuring, which has profound implications for Canadian society and its citizens, the economy, defence, national security and relations with international partners and allies.
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) will host a series of interactive virtual workshops on using AI to address defence and security challenges and opportunities.
The aim of this workshop series is to bring together experts from the Canadian innovation ecosystem in AI, the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to exchange perspectives on the impact of the development and adoption of AI for defence and security, to inform DRDC Science and Technology and Innovation Programs, and to contribute to the development of DND and CAF’s AI strategy to be published in June 2022. This workshop series will be divided into three thematic areas:
- Workshop 1 – AI and Semi-autonomous Systems
- January 17, 2022, 1:00–4:30 p.m. EST (UTC−5:00)
- Keynote speaker: Brigadier-General (Retired) Robert Mazzolin, Chief Technology Strategist at RHEA Group
- Workshop 2 – AI and Cybersecurity
- February 1, 2022, 1:00–4:30 p.m. EST (UTC−5:00)
- Keynote speaker: Colonel Corey Crosby, Chief, Joint Cyber Centre, North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) and Northern Command (NORTHCOM) Headquarters, DND
- Workshop 3 – Enabling Pan-Domain Command and Control
- February 22, 2022, 3:00–6:30 p.m. EST (UTC−5:00)
- Keynote speaker: Brigadier-General Tom Dunne, CD; Deputy Director Strategy, Policy and Plans (J5D), NORAD and NORTHCOM Headquarters, DND
Participation will come from the main institutions of the Canadian innovation ecosystem in AI and from the various branches of DND.
These sessions will be interactive and use an ideation approach, meaning they will be designed to generate both ideas and potential solutions, and to equip participants with the necessary information to make decisions about the shape and direction of the future use of AI within the military and national defence and security spheres. Workshops will also include a panel looking at the policy, regulation, diversity and ethics dimensions of adopting AI in those fields of application.
