A Legacy of RL Research
Amii is one of the world’s longest-standing centers of Reinforcement Learning (RL) expertise. For more than 20 years, our researchers have led advancements in RL—long before it became a mainstream AI approach.
Our work is shaping the future of AI. We’re driving research forward, attracting top talent, and helping businesses apply RL in real-world settings. As a key part of Canada’s AI ecosystem, we’re strengthening the country’s role as a global leader in AI innovation.
World-Leading RL Researchers
Amii is home to some of the world’s leading RL researchers. Their breakthroughs have made self-learning AI a reality, driving advances in robotics, gaming, healthcare, and more. Their work continues to shape how AI learns from experience, interacts with the world, and solves real-world challenges.
Richard S. Sutton
Richard S. Sutton, the Chief Scientific Advisor at Amii, won the A.M. Turing Award for his reinforcement learning research.
He co-authored Reinforcement Learning: An Introduction (1998, 2018), the definitive textbook that continues to shape the field today.
His breakthroughs—temporal difference learning, policy gradient methods, and the Dyna architecture—are the foundation of modern RL, driving advancements in robotics, game-playing AI, and complex decision-making systems.
WHAT IS REINFORCEMENT LEARNING?
RL = Learning by Doing
How does a baby or an animal learn about the world? By trying things out, noticing the result, and trying again.
Early in AI history, researchers aimed to build AI agents with that same ability—to interact with the world to achieve goals. This idea is at the core of RL: learning by doing.
Reinforcement Learning (RL)
RL takes a different approach to machine learning—so much so that it’s considered a distinct subfield.
Traditional machine learning relies on pre-built datasets and benchmarks, developing models that optimize performance against them. RL, on the other hand, asks a different question: What if a model could generate its own data by interacting with the world? What if it could learn through experience?
This shift in perspective is what makes RL unique—and why it’s a core focus at Amii.
Amii Researchers and their many students are advancing RL to make it more efficient, accurate, and practical for real-world challenges.
Why RL Matters?
Unlike traditional AI, RL-powered systems don’t just follow rules—they learn from experience and improve over time. This ability to adapt, optimize, and make decisions in complex situations makes RL a critical technology for shaping the future of AI-driven solutions in everyday life.
Agriculture
Fresher, More Affordable Food – RL helps farmers use water and fertilizer more efficiently, leading to better crop yields and lower food prices at the grocery store.
Biotechnology
Faster Medical Breakthroughs – AI accelerates drug discovery and treatment research, leading to better healthcare options and more effective medicines.
Constuction
Faster, Safer Construction – AI-powered automation keeps projects on schedule, improves worker safety, and reduces costs, helping build homes and infrastructure faster.
Energy & Utilities
Lower Energy Bills – RL helps balance energy demand and improve renewable energy efficiency, making electricity cheaper and more reliable.
Engineering
RL enhances design simulations, allowing engineers to test and optimize structures, transportation systems, and materials for safety, durability, and efficiency.
Financial Services
Safer Banking and Online Shopping – AI spots fraudulent transactions instantly, helping protect your money and personal information.
Healthcare
More Accurate Diagnoses and Treatments – AI-assisted healthcare tools help doctors detect diseases earlier and personalize treatments, improving patient care.
Manufacturing
More Affordable Products – RL reduces production waste, improves factory efficiency, and optimizes supply chains, helping keep everyday goods affordable and widely available.
Supply Chain
Faster Deliveries, Fewer Shortages – RL optimizes shipping routes and warehouse management, ensuring the things you need arrive on time.
Video & Computer Gaming
Better, More Engaging Games – AI learns how you play, creating smarter opponents and more personalized and engaging gaming experiences.