Data analytics &
artificial intelligence news

Data analytics and artificial intelligence programs and research at U of T Engineering is reshaping processes to improve lives and generate value for people around the world.

"If nobody outside a company can see what these systems are doing, it’s very hard to tell whether they’re safe," says Professor Nicolas Papernot (ECE). (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

U of T researcher calls for independent testing of powerful AI models

Nicolas Papernot (ECE) says universities can be a “transparency bridge” by investigating new AI models for cybersecurity threats before they are released to the public

A person stand on a bridge with a small body of water and trees behind them

U of T research finds AI scribes save doctors’ time and may ease administrative burden

A new study with Women’s College Hospital compared appointments with and without the digital tools to understand their impact on workflow

Gabriel D. Patrón (ChemE) focuses his research on making AI models interpretable, reliable and grounded in physical principles so that engineers can trust them in safety-critical settings. (photo by ChemE Communications)

Using AI to build a smarter, more sustainable future: Meet ChemE professor Gabriel D. Patrón

Patrón is exploring how these technologies can complement — rather than replace — traditional chemical engineering knowledge

An AI model segments flames and smoke in aerial footage, helping researchers track wildfire growth and build more accurate predictions. (photo courtesy of Steven Waslander)

New AI prediction model could transform how Canada fights wildfires

Technology developed by U of T Engineering researchers could help predict wildfire spread to support first responder safety and resources

Four people stand together with their pinky fingers raised.

Ask Alan: Capstone team creates AI tool to help students study

Student-designed chatbot pulls directly from course material and can be set up by a professor within an hour

Meagan Flus managing data collection at a hackathon in 2024. (photo submitted by Meagan Flus)

How hackathons can serve as a ‘living laboratory’ for studying engineering design team dynamics

Graduate student Meagan Flus (MIE PhD 2T6) used 24-hour observation to analyze conflict on design teams — and how to navigate it

Professor Nicolas Papernot (ECE) and his collaborators showed that publicly accessible AI models can be used to power a worm that adapts its strategy as it spreads. (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

U of T researchers demonstrate AI worm could target any online device

The research was conducted in a secure digital lab with the goal of helping the cybersecurity community prepare for an imminent threat

Large Language Models (LLMs) have high electricity and water consumption due to the resource requirements of serving them to millions of users. This footprint can be reduced using methods developed by Professor Samin Aref (MIE) and his team, which produce smaller LLMs through quantizing their parameters. (image generated by ChatGPT)

How ‘slimmed-down’ large language models can reduce AI’s environmental and energy footprint

U of T Engineering researchers examine ways to make the use of language models more resource efficient by replacing their high-precision parameters with low-precision ones

A group of people stand in front of a wall-to-wall screen displaying data.

New cybersecurity certificate prepares graduates to tackle digital vulnerabilities and threats

U of T Engineering certificate includes a new course, ECE381: Foundations and Frontiers in Cybersecurity