A Call to Address Anthropomorphic AI Threats to Freedom of Thought

In this policy brief, Abel Wajnerman Paz discusses “bonding chatbots,” a type of social, conversational artificial intelligence designed to embody a personal relationship — a friend, a sibling or a romantic partner. These artificial bonds are available 24/7 to attend to their users’ emotional needs and reduce their loneliness, but the personal and societal damage that this technology can cause is already tangible.

Wajnerman Paz writes that “unlike therapist chatbots, which are presented as medical technologies backed by professional psychologists, bonding chatbots are presented as well-being technologies for everyday use. However, some of their users may be psychologically vulnerable people seeking therapeutic solutions for their mental health issues, and therefore at significant risk if exposed to emotional manipulation and deception. Treating bonding chatbots as a medical technology could help mitigate these risks.”

The Digital Policy Hub at CIGI is a collaborative space for emerging scholars and innovative thinkers from the social, natural and applied sciences. Here are the most recent working papers published by Hub fellows.

Nathalie DiBerardino: “Toward Actionable Policy for the Use of AI in Canada’s Housing Crisis”

Caleigh Wong: “The Military’s Crisis of Analytics: Modernizing Misconduct Data”

Halyna Padalko: “AI and Information Manipulation: Russia’s Interference in the US Elections”

Follow the links on the Hub webpage to learn more about the Hub scholars and their work.

Canada’s banking system is falling behind. While regulators pin hopes on digital upgrades, the real problem is structural: entrenched dominance, outdated rules and barriers to competition. Without systemic reform, flashy apps and new payment rails won’t deliver real progress. In this opinion, S. Yash Kalash and Rafael Morales-Guzman argue that Canada must break down market barriers, modernize regulation and put people at the centre of banking innovation.

For too long, Canada’s trade playbook has leaned on the United States. New financing tools and investment strategies could unlock opportunities in fast-growing international markets, reinforce supply chain security and help Canadian firms compete globally. In this piece, Victoria Schorr and Georgina Wainwright-Kemdirim outline how Canada can make its next big leap in trade.