AI Literacy Day: Supporting Safer and More Critical Engagement with AI

Happy AI Literacy Day, Canada! 🇨🇦 

Our partners at MediaSmarts have launched Canada's inaugural AI Literacy Day to empower Canadians to gain the knowledge and skills needed to use, understand and engage with AI safely, critically and responsibly. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our everyday lives, AI literacy is becoming an essential skill in the digital age. From algorithms that curate our content to AI chatbots that impact how we interact and communicate, understanding how these systems work and how they affect us is key to our safety and well-being.

As researchers and advocates in AI, well-being, and AI literacy, our Lab team has been actively working to advance AI literacy through community outreach. Yesterday, we hosted our fourth Lunch and Learn: Safer Series session, where we explored AI deepfakes, cyberbullying and youth, and practical strategies for supporting victims of deepfakes, including:

• Recognizing the unique responses victims may experience (e.g., embarrassment, shame, trauma, self-doubt)

• Responding with mindful listening and validation (not trying to "fix" or bypass how they are feeling)

• Integrating deepfakes as part of bullying/cyberbullying conversations in school, including harm and legal repercussionsAs AI technologies continue to evolve, so must our approaches to education and support for all Canadians.

We look forward to continuing to advance this research and community outreach!