Are you a faculty member at the University of Waterloo? Enhance your research and connect with a network of AI experts by becoming a member of the Waterloo Data & Artificial Intelligence Institute. Click the link below to access the membership form and discover the opportunities waiting for you at Waterloo.AI.
Waterloo.AI uses a “pull” strategy wherein our Corporate and Industry partners put forth their challenges and opportunities. We then utilize a Call for Proposal (CFP) process across our multidisciplinary researchers where our researchers can apply their foundational AI results and experience to solve real-world industry challenges.
For more information, please contact Jacob Witmer jacob.witmer@uwaterloo.ca
News
TD Layer 6 Visit Sparks New Research Collaborations at Waterloo
Waterloo.AI welcomed researchers from Layer 6, TD's AI research centre, for a day of talks and discussions that has already led to new research collaborations.
AI chatbots hesitant to recommend change
A new study of multiple large language models (LLMs) found that when users asked chatbots for advice, they were more likely to make suggestions that favour the status quo over alternatives. The tendency of artificial intelligence to default to more common advice could be bad news for the climate.
Researchers from the University of Waterloo assessed 11 LLMs for their tendency to prefer existing conditions over change, known as status quo bias. Well-known in psychology research, this is the first paper to apply the concept to climate advice from LLMs. The team evaluated more than 7,500 queries spanning multiple domains, including vehicle purchases, recipes, home heating, and climate-relevant policy trade-offs. Each of these queries was tested on at least six different LLMs for a total of nearly 55,000 prompts. Where climate trade-offs are possible in policy, platforms reinforced decisions the user already made with double the frequency.
Students are building in Waterloo with ambition and energy
University of Waterloo students put the city on the map last week with two stand-out events, Waterloo Tech Week and Hack the North. Both showcased the dynamic Waterloo tech ecosystem and its entrepreneurial energy, bringing together business founders, talent spotters, students, startups, venture capitalists and hackers from around the world.
Now in its 13th year, Hack the North, Canada’s largest student-led hackathon, welcomed more than 1,000 hackers who spent 36 straight hours building, collaborating and connecting with peers and industry. Building on the success and spirit of Hack the North, the student organizing team launched Waterloo Tech Week in 2025, creating an event that is open to anyone interested in connecting with the startup community in the Waterloo Region.
Events
When Structure Matters: Structure-Aware Learning for Interpretable and Reliable AI
Join Tengfei Ma to discuss "When Structure Matters: Structure-Aware Learning for Interpretable and Reliable AI". This seminar will lead a thought-provoking conversation and will be taking place at DC 1304 on Tuesday, October 27th, 10:00AM-11:30AM.