CIFAR has launched its first two AI Safety Solution Networks funded through the Canadian AI Safety Institute (CAISI) Research Program that will supporting teams working to develop new tools to make artificial intelligence safer and more inclusive.
Among the newly funded Solutions Networks is Safeguarding Courts from Synthetic AI Content led by a team including Professor Karen Eltis, Faculty member at the Centre for Law, Technology and Society and a Full Professor of Law within the Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section at the University of Ottawa, and Professor Jacquelyn Burkell, Associate member of the Centre and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at the University of Western Ontario.
The initiative addresses the increasing use of synthetic AI-generated evidence in legal proceedings, including forged images and videos, as well as court documents drafted with large language models that may contain hallucinations. The team aims to develop a free, open-source system to help courts identify potentially problematic content—an important step as the justice system adapts to rapid technological change.
The stakes are high: the ability to distinguish real evidence from fabricated material can directly affect judicial outcomes. Because expert analysis is often costly or unavailable, the network’s objective is to build a transparent, user-friendly tool suitable for both court officers and self-represented litigants.
Funded through the CAISI Research Program at CIFAR, these Solution Networks form part of the Government of Canada’s broader investment in AI safety, introduced in November 2024 to address evolving AI-related risks. The program highlights the importance of developing trustworthy, accountable technologies that support public confidence in an AI-driven environment.
Congratulations to Professors Eltis and Burkell.