Amii Monthly News - January 2024

Hi there,

I hope everyone is having a good start to 2024!

We’re kicking off a new year with a new program that I’m very excited about. 

The Executive AI Summit is our way of helping executives and corporate board members cut through the buzzwords and gain a comprehensive understanding of how to prepare their organizations for the next wave of rapid AI advancement. 

The program includes a 3-hour workshop (offered monthly from now until May) and customized programming hosted by me at this year’s Upper Bound AI Conference, May 21-24. Participation is by application only and the program can be taken in-person or online.

Applications for the summit are now open, with exclusive pricing for the first 200 participants. You can learn more about it and sign up here. 

We've also launched our podcast - Approximately Correct! Every month, we'll have a new episode where we explore some of the stories behind the science being done at Amii and in the world of AI.

Our first episode features Amii Fellow and Canada CIFAR AI Chair Michael Bowling talking about developing the Atari benchmark and how it went from a small idea to a tool used in AI research worldwide. Have a listen!

We hope to see you there!

See you soon,

January Highlights

Community & Industry Updates:

• The new Executive AI Summit program offers tools and knowledge critical to adopting and advancing AI. Applications are now open, with exclusive pricing for a limited time, so don't delay.
• Amii has launched a podcast, where we explore some of the little-known stories and ideas behind the science of AI research. The first episode is out, with Amii Fellow and Canada CIFAR AI Chair Michael Bowling sharing the untold story of the Atari benchmark.
• This month marks the beginning of our new AI Everywhere course, taught by Amii Fellows and Canada CIFAR AI Chairs Adam White and Alona Fyshe and offers undergrads at the University of Alberta a foundational understanding of how AI works.
• “Being AI literate ... is going to be essential" for children and their future career opportunities. Learn what parents need to know about AI literacy and kids. 

Research Updates:

• Amii Fellow and Canada CIFAR Chair AI Russ Greiner talked to the Canadian Press about how AI is likely to advance healthcare in 2024. Read the article here. 
• MSc. graduate Revan MacQueen shared his thoughts on what excited him at this year's NeurIPS conference. Check out his thoughts on the advancements in emergence, double descent and reinforcement learning he saw.
• We're proud to support the AI4Good Lab, which offers 7 weeks of machine learning training and mentorship to women and gender-diverse individuals. Applications for summer 2024 are open now!
• CIFAR has also opened applications for their Deep Learning Reinforcement Learning Summer School! Learn more and apply by Feb. 16. 

Training Updates:

• ML Foundations 1 is your way to get a basic, high-level understanding of what’s important and relevant in machine learning. Sign up for our Feb. 1 course.
• Then expand on that knowledge with ML Foundations 2, where you'll be introduced to tools, strategies and knowledge regarding data and ML. The next session is on Feb, 8.
• Learn about the essential ethics considerations for organizations using artificial intelligence in our new AI Ethics 1 and AI Ethics 2 courses. Applications are now open for the next round of sessions. 
  
  

Upcoming Events

Jan. 25, 2024
Alberta Enterprise Group (AEG) Post AGM Mixer

Find Amii CEO, Cam Linke at this event, excited to chat & network with you!

• 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Registration and Networking with holiday carolers
• 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Presentations and Fireside Chat
• 5:30 p.m. - Networking

More details

Jan. 25, 2024
Health Canada Science Forum

The Health Canada Science Forum is an annual event for Government of Canada colleagues from all sectors and disciplines to celebrate and share scientific advancements and accomplishments and engage the experts on emerging and pressing issues in health science and policy.

In keeping with the Forum’s well-earned reputation for excellence, this year’s event will again feature appearances by prominent and influential Canadian and International scientists and researchers, leading presentations and discussions that are sure to inspire and challenge. This includes Amii Fellow & Canada CIFAR AI Chair Ross Mitchell who will highlight the collaboration between Alberta Health Services (AHS), the University of Alberta's College of Health Sciences, and the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for precision health.

Jan. 29 - 31, 2024

SPE Workshop: Unlocking the Power of Data Analytics in Oil & Gas

Collaborate with data analytics thought leaders in the Oil & Gas sector to create a brighter, data-driven future.
Attendees will embark on a transformative journey where speakers will demonstrate how to seamlessly fuse data analytics into the heart of the industry's operations.

This interactive workshop will offer a platform for industry professionals to come together, forge meaningful connections, share their invaluable experiences, and collaborate in unlocking the untapped potential of data analytics.

Catch Amii's own David Chan ( Product Lead - Industry) who will be a panellist on Monday, January 29 at 4:30pm.

More details

Feb. 8 - 9, 2024
Eco Impact

Learning Series & Awards Gala

Welcome to ECO IMPACT 2024, where industry leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts from across the industry come together to share, learn, and collaborate on sustainable solutions. Dive into two transformative days of innovative discussions, networking, and celebration of environmental professionals.

Amii's own Russ Erickson (VP, Investment and Partnerships) will be discussing how AI is important to every industry, especially those in the environmental space.

Learn more

Feb. 16 - 18, 2024

NASH 86 Student Journalism Conference

Canada's largest student journalism conference.

NASH 86 is where student journalists gather to learn from experts, develop their skills, and network with like-minded individuals from all over the country.

Join the NAIT Nugget in Edmonton, Alberta from February 16-18, 2024 for three days of unforgettable panels, info sessions, lectures and more.

Amii's own Scott Lilwall (Science Communications Associate) will be speaking about how to incorporate AI into journalism!

Register today

May 28 - 30, 2024

2024 National Forum on Earth Observation

This event will bring together Canadian stakeholders from industry, academia, Indigenous communities and government in order to assess current Earth observation (EO) undertakings and discuss the next steps for satellite EO in Canada.

The program will include plenary sessions and workshops. Amii's own Payam Mousavi (Applied Research Scientist) will be a virtual panelist on May 29, 2024.

Learn more

Career Opportunities

• On the Advanced Tech team, we're looking for a Machine Learning Intern with an interest in the application of generative AI in NLP for a four-month internship!
• There's an immediate opening for a Postdoctoral Fellow to work with Amii Fellow Osmar Zaiane. Apply now!
• The University of Alberta is searching for candidates for some of the researcher positions Amii announced last year. They currently include:
  • Assistant, Associate or Full Professor, AI & Indigeneity
  • Assistant Professor, Remote Sensing and ML in Earth/Environmental Sciences
  • Assistant Professor, AI & Biological Cognition
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry
  • Tenure-Track Positions in Robotics
  • Tenure-Track Positions in AI & ML
  • Assistant Professor in Applied ML / AI in Land Use Science

Keep up-to-date on all of our open postings on our Career Opportunities page.