In a move to advance cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) tools and methods, the University of Toronto (U of T) and LG Electronics have renewed their collaborative research agreement for an additional five years. The multimillion-dollar partnership, with a strong emphasis on responsible AI development, aims to build on their previous successes in fundamental AI training methods, autonomous systems, health care, materials discovery, and robotics.
The renewed agreement reflects a commitment to addressing ethical considerations and trustworthiness in AI frameworks, paving the way for responsible and impactful AI systems. University of Toronto President Meric Gertler expressed pride in the transformative impact of the partnership, highlighting its importance in fostering innovation, collaboration, and experimentation.
“LG will continue to collaborate with research institutes and industry innovators to solidify its leadership in AI to develop more efficient, safe, and reliable solutions for our customers,” said Kim Byoung-hoon, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice-President of LG Electronics. He emphasized LG’s commitment to collaborative intelligence in shaping a better future.
The collaboration, initiated in 2018 and expanded in the following year, has proven mutually beneficial, resulting in 31 projects involving 16 University of Toronto professors across two of the university’s three campuses. President Gertler noted that LG’s reach globally means that collaboration with the company has a direct impact on the daily lives of billions of people.
The research partnership extends beyond traditional boundaries, providing LG’s researchers with opportunities to collaborate with the University of Toronto’s world-class experts across various fields. LG’s Toronto AI Lab opened in conjunction with the partnership, serves as a local hub for global research and development priorities. Supported by investment attraction agencies Invest Ontario and Toronto Global, the lab facilitates collaboration between University of Toronto researchers and LG’s global teams.
The collaboration also includes the AI Specialist Program, offering mentorship to LG’s researchers and creating an inverted internship model. Alex Mihailidis, the University of Toronto’s Associate Vice President of International Partnerships, commended LG’s open-minded approach to collaboration, highlighting how the projects have extended beyond traditional research labs.
The partnership showcases the power of collaborative intelligence in driving innovation and creating impactful solutions for global challenges. The renewal of the agreement signals a continued commitment to advancing AI research and responsible development over the next five years.
