CIFAR announces distinguished advisory committee for $125M Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy

International Scientific Advisory Committee will recommend Canada CIFAR AI Chair appointments and provide advice on the AI Strategy.

TORONTO, Feb. 9, 2018 /CNW/ - CIFAR is pleased to announce the appointment of the distinguished members of the International Scientific Advisory Committee of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy.

The seven members of the committee are international scientific leaders from major institutions and companies from around the world including Google, DeepMind, Facebook and the French national science agency.

"I'm excited we were able to attract a group of this exceptionally high calibre for the committee," says Dr. Elissa Strome, Executive Director of CIFAR's Pan-Canadian AI Strategy. "It's a testament to Canada's position as a global leader in AI that such excellent people are willing to come together and lend us their expertise."

CIFAR is implementing the $125 million strategy announced by the Government of Canada last year, in partnership with the three newly established AI institutes – Amii in Edmonton, the Vector Institute in Toronto and MILA in Montreal.

As part of the AI strategy, CIFAR will appoint approximately 50 Canada CIFAR Chairs in Artificial Intelligence at the three institutes. At least half of the chairholders will be recruited from outside Canada. The International Scientific Advisory Committee will evaluate nominations from each of the AI institutes and recommend Chair appointments to CIFAR's Board of Directors.

"I'm very pleased that CIFAR is working with the Government of Canada and the three AI institutes to strengthen Canada's global leadership in AI," said Dr. Alan Bernstein, President & CEO of CIFAR. "This international committee of distinguished scientists will ensure that we are appointing the very best people. I want to thank them for their time and wisdom."

The members of the International Scientific Advisory Committee are:

PROF. SHIRLEY TILGHMAN, OC, FRS
Chair; President Emerita, Princeton University;
United States

DR. VICTORIA KRAKOVNA
Research Scientist, DeepMind;
Co-Founder, Future of Life Institute,
United Kingdom

PROF. YANN LECUN
Co-Director, CIFAR Program in Learning in Machines & Brains;
Chief AI Scientist, Facebook
Professor, New York University,
United States

PROF. FEI-FEI LI
Director, Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab;
Associate Professor, Stanford University;
Chief Scientist of AI/ML, Google Cloud,
United States

PROF. ANTOINE PETIT
Member, CIFAR Research Council;
President, National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS),
France

PROF. SEBASTIAN SEUNG
Advisor, CIFAR Program in Learning in Machines & Brains;
Evnin Professor in Neuroscience, Professor of Computer Science, Princeton Neuroscience Institute,
United States

PROF. MAX WELLING
CIFAR Fellow, Program in Learning in Machines & Brains;
Research Chair in Machine Learning
University of Amsterdam, Netherlands

About CIFAR

CIFAR (Canadian Institute for Advanced Research) creates knowledge that is transforming our world. Established in 1982, the Institute brings together interdisciplinary groups of extraordinary researchers from around the globe to address questions and challenges of importance to the world. Our networks help support the growth of research leaders and are catalysts for change in business, government and society. CIFAR is generously supported by the governments of Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, Canadian and international partners, as well as individuals, foundations and corporations.

SOURCE Canadian Institute for Advanced Research

To arrange interviews with Dr. Bernstein and Dr. Strome, please contact: Juanita Bawagan, CIFAR Media Relations Specialist, [email protected], 416-971-4884

Related Links

www.cifar.ca