Stephen Downes

Senior Research Officer; Member, Research Ethics Board, National Research Council Canada
 https://www.downes.ca

Stephen Downes

Stephen Downes works with the Digital Technologies Research Centre at the National Research Council of Canada specializing in new instructional media and personal learning technology. His degrees are in Philosophy, specializing in epistemology, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of science. He has taught for the University of Alberta, Athabasca University, Grand Prairie Regional College and Assiniboine Community College. His background includes expertise in journalism and media, both as a prominent blogger and as founder of the Moncton Free Press online news cooperative. He developed the world’s first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), has published frequently about open, online and networked learning, has authored learning management and content syndication software, and is the author of the widely read e-learning newsletter OLDaily. Downes is a member of NRC’s Research Ethics Board. He is a popular keynote speaker and has spoken at conferences around the world.

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All Sessions by Stephen Downes

  • Tuesday, April 30


  • 14:10  - 14:55
    SESSION KEYWORDS: Artificial intelligence, Ethical AI, Transparency, Privacy

    SESSION ABSTRACT

    The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) as a research tool has significant implications for research ethics boards. Some institutions may transfer broad AI review responsibilities on to REBs, while other REBs may consider AI tools only within specific proposals for research involving human participants. Both scenarios will present challenging questions requiring REB members to apply core understandings of how AI works and how to apply principles of ethical AI in the field of the research project. Facilitated by some of Canada’s leading experts in AI ethics, this workshop will provide participants with a solid grounding in the nature of AI tools and advances in AI ethics as well as examples of AI ethics challenges to date. Participants will then leverage this information in smaller-group discussions on how AI principles can apply to REB assessments in specific research disciplines (e.g. medicine, social science, etc.). Topics of discussion will include: choosing amongst the various existing ethical AI frameworks (e.g. the Montreal Declaration in Canada, the Berkman-Klein Principled AI Framework in the USA, and the Digital Catapult Ethical Framework in the UK), reconciling inconsistencies between different frameworks, addressing the underlying tension between individual ethical principles (e.g. participant privacy versus data transparency), and how AI-specific guidance is situated within the broader landscape of research ethics and existing regulatory frameworks.
    Sessions

  • 15:05  - 15:50
    SESSION KEYWORDS: Artificial intelligence, Ethical AI, Transparency, Privacy

    SESSION ABSTRACT

    The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) as a research tool has significant implications for research ethics boards. Some institutions may transfer broad AI review responsibilities on to REBs, while other REBs may consider AI tools only within specific proposals for research involving human participants. Both scenarios will present challenging questions requiring REB members to apply core understandings of how AI works and how to apply principles of ethical AI in the field of the research project. Facilitated by some of Canada’s leading experts in AI ethics, this workshop will provide participants with a solid grounding in the nature of AI tools and advances in AI ethics as well as examples of AI ethics challenges to date. Participants will then leverage this information in smaller-group discussions on how AI principles can apply to REB assessments in specific research disciplines (e.g. medicine, social science, etc.). Topics of discussion will include: choosing amongst the various existing ethical AI frameworks (e.g. the Montreal Declaration in Canada, the Berkman-Klein Principled AI Framework in the USA, and the Digital Catapult Ethical Framework in the UK), reconciling inconsistencies between different frameworks, addressing the underlying tension between individual ethical principles (e.g. participant privacy versus data transparency), and how AI-specific guidance is situated within the broader landscape of research ethics and existing regulatory frameworks.
    Sessions




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Stephen Downes