Shaping the AI University: Leadership, Policy and the Future of Higher Education

Panel Discussion

Artificial intelligence is already reshaping the university and testing the boundaries of learning, innovation and societal impact.

This discussion brings together leading voices from the University of Alberta to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming higher education. As institutions experiment with AI-supported learning, research and decision-making, new opportunities are emerging to bridge the gap between academic discovery and public benefit — alongside important questions around academic integrity, cognitive dependency and the core work of teaching and scholarship.

From the classroom and the lab to the university’s broader role in society, the conversation will examine what should evolve — and what must remain — as AI becomes more embedded in academic life.

President and Vice-Chancellor Bill Flanagan will host this engaging discussion to dig deeper into these questions. Attendees are invited to listen, reflect and submit their own questions.

The President’s Speaker Series shares the impact of university research on our society — seeking to solve problems and generate change for the greater good of our communities. Will you help shape the conversation?

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Virtual Option: This event will be live-streamed on YouTube

The President’s Speaker Series shares the impact of university research on our society — seeking to solve problems and generate change for the greater good of our communities. Will you help shape the conversation?

About the Speakers

Hamidat Bello

President, Undergraduate Artificial Intelligence Society, University of Alberta

A graduating Computer Science student, Bello brings a vital student perspective to the conversation around AI and higher education. Her work spans accessibility-focused AI, rehabilitation robotics and the development of AI-powered tools through internships at Microsoft. Passionate about student advocacy, she helped establish a task force to ensure student voices are represented in institutional AI decision-making. She will speak to how students are experiencing — and influencing — the role of AI on campus.

Dr. Alona Fyshe

Associate Professor, Computing Science and Psychology

Dr. Fyshe’s research explores how both humans and machines understand meaning. Using machine learning to analyze brain activity, she explores how the human brain understands language — and how that compares to the way AI models process it. A Canada CIFAR AI Chair and Amii fellow, she brings a unique perspective on what AI reveals about human cognition — and what that means for learning, knowledge and education.

Dr. Adam White

Associate Professor, Computing Science

Dr. White focuses on building reinforcement learning systems that learn through trial and error in real-world environments. As Scientific Director of Amii and a former research scientist at Google DeepMind, his work sits at the forefront of how AI systems are designed and applied. He will share insights into how these technologies are shaping research, discovery and the future of intelligent systems.

Get your tickets today