A new study by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) has found that Canadians are enthusiastically embracing new artificial intelligence (AI) tools, but are failing to fully comprehend the potential downsides.
The study, titled “Incautiously Optimistic,” analyzed 6.9 million social media posts and years of online searches related to AI. The findings revealed that Canadians of all ages have a positive view of AI, with particular interest in Québec. However, the study also found that users often focus on the more entertaining aspects of AI, such as games and chatbots, while neglecting concerns such as fairness and bias.
In response to these findings, CIFAR has launched a free online course called “Destination AI” to help Canadians learn more about the potential benefits and risks of AI. The course covers topics such as AI terminology, common AI misconceptions, and the ethical issues associated with AI.
“AI is increasingly impacting our daily lives, from healthcare to job hunting,” said Elissa Strome, head of pan-Canadian AI strategy at CIFAR. “It’s important that Canadians have a basic understanding of AI so that we can demand responsible AI use.”
The “Destination AI” course is available to anyone who wants to learn more about AI. To register for the course, visit the CIFAR website.
The sources for this piece include an article in ITWorldCanada.