From: Trevor Young, Vice-President and Provost
Date: May 10, 2024
Re: University of Toronto Artificial Intelligence Task Force (PDAD&C #41)
In March, I announced the appointment of Prof. Susan McCahan as the Provostial Advisor on Artificial Intelligence, and the formation of an institutional Task Force on Artificial Intelligence to engage members of the University in developing a vision and strategic plan for the University’s AI activities.
The Task Force will be led by a Steering Committee of individuals with expertise across a range of academic, administrative and technical areas. This committee will coordinate and synthesize the efforts of area-specific working groups, some of which have already begun their work – for example, in research, teaching & learning, and the Libraries.
This critical institutional initiative will consider ways that our community can best leverage AI to enhance our research expertise, support student success and engagement in rewarding learning and co-curricular experiences and services and improve operational efficiencies – all within a framework of clear and consistent ethical principles.
We are pleased to announce the membership of the Steering Committee as follows:
| Role | Name | Title |
| Teaching & Learning Co-Chair | Professor Susan McCahan | Provostial Advisor on Artificial Intelligence, Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education, and Vice-Provost, Academic Programs |
| Teaching & Learning Co-Chair | Professor Karen Reid | Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Arts & Science |
| Research Co-Chair | Professor Tim Chan | Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, Strategic Initiative, Professor, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering |
| Research Co-Chair | Professor Gary Bader | Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine |
| Operations Chair | Ron Saporta | Chief Operating Officer, Property Services & Sustainability |
| Student Services Co-Chair | Professor Sandy Welsh | Vice-Provost, Students; Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts & Sciences |
| Student Services Co-Chair | Professor Bob Gazzale | Professor, Teaching Stream; Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies, Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts & Science |
| People Strategy, and Administration Co-Chair | Erin Jackson | Assistant Vice-President, University Human Resources, Division of People Strategy, Equity & Culture |
| People Strategy, and Administration Co-Chair | Professor Kelly Lyons | Professor, Faculty of Information; Interim Director, Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society |
| Communications Chair | Chris Boutet | Director, Content Innovation, University of Toronto Communications |
| Libraries Chair | Larry Alford | Chief Librarian, University of Toronto Libraries |
| Technology & Data Governance Co-Chair | Swetlana Signarowski | Executive Director, Enterprise Applications and Solutions Integration |
| Technology & Data Governance Co-Chair | Professor Jamie Stafford | Vice-Dean, Academic Operations; Professor, Department of Statistical Sciences, Faculty of Arts & Science |
| Task Force Advisor | Professor Muhammad Mamdani | Director, Temerty Faculty of Medicine Centre for Artificial Intelligence Education and Research in Medicine (T-CAIREM); Professor, Department of Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine |
| Task Force Advisor | Archana Sridhar | Assistant Provost |
| Task Force Advisor | Professor Alison Gibbs | Director, Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation; Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Statistical Sciences, Faculty of Arts & Science |
| Task Force Advisor | Professor Joshua Barker | Vice-Provost, Graduate Research & Education and Dean, School of Graduate Studies; Professor, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Arts & Science |
| Lead Support | Julian Weinrib | Director, Innovations in Undergraduate Education, Office of the Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education |
Professor McCahan and I would also like to share the launch of a new institutional website on Artificial Intelligence (https://ai.utoronto.ca). This site provides a space for U of T community members and the general public to find academic and research opportunities at the University, information on technologies currently in use, supporting institutional guidelines and policies, and updates on new artificial intelligence activities across the University. As Task Force work unfolds, additional information and resources will also be available through the website.