Quebec is set to create a national consultation body to manage AI’s integration in higher education, addressing ethical and educational challenges posed by rapidly evolving technologies.
Quebec to Establish Consultation Body to Address AI Use in Higher Education
Quebec has announced the creation of a “national consultation body” to explore and manage the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the province’s higher education sector. This initiative comes amid rising concerns about the implications of AI tools in academic settings.
Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry emphasized the urgency of this move, noting that AI technologies such as ChatGPT and Gemini are rapidly evolving and here to stay. “The creation of a national consultation body on AI seems essential to us today, in particular to better understand the educational and ethical issues linked to its use,” said Déry in a statement, underscoring the need to develop strategic priorities and guiding principles.
The group will be a diverse assembly comprising representatives from schools, student associations, unions, and AI experts. Its primary objectives will include forming a common vision and establishing foundational principles regarding the responsible, ethical, sustainable, and secure usage of AI in higher education.
The concerns originate from the multifaceted capabilities of AI tools, which can generate essays, take exams, develop lesson plans, correct copy, answer questions, generate code, summarize texts, create images, and synthesize music. According to a recent report by the Conseil supérieur de l’éducation and the Commission de l’éthique en science et en technologie, these functionalities pose risks related to misinformation, discriminatory bias, data opacity, accessibility to psychosocial services, and privacy protection.
The report recommended the creation of a body that could devise guidelines for the use of generative AI. In addition, this new group is expected to facilitate communication between the ministry and its academic network, ensuring that AI-related initiatives are effectively developed and implemented.
Canadian Human Rights Commission Appointment Controversy
In an unrelated development, Justice Minister Arif Virani accepted the resignation of Birju Dattani just days after appointing him as the Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC). The resignation followed objections from several Jewish groups who accused Dattani of making anti-Israel statements and supporting an Israel boycott during his academic career in Britain.
To resolve the issue, Virani commissioned an independent review by a Toronto law firm. Employment lawyer Sarah Crossley, who authored the report, stated that she found no evidence of anti-Semitism by Dattani. Crossley pointed out that Dattani was careful to differentiate his criticism of the Israeli state’s actions from criticism of the Israeli people.
However, the report did raise concerns about Dattani’s manner of presenting his academic critiques, suggesting he deliberately downplayed the focus on Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Following the review, Virani had initially asked Dattani to pause the commencement of his role, which was set to begin on August 8.
These developments underscore a range of challenges within the realms of both education and human rights, reflecting the complexities surrounding technological advancements and global political sensitivities.
