Margaret McKay

Roles and responsibilities

I work in the area of safe and responsible AI with a focus on research at the interface of digital technologies and society.

I developed and lead the NRC AI for Logistics Program, supporting the strategic objectives of Canada’s SCALE AI Global Innovation Cluster to enhance Canadian logistics and supply chain excellence through artificial intelligence.

My research focus is centred around safety-enhancing AI explanations and logical reasoning challenges involving large language models. 

I am a member of the NRC's Research Ethics Board and speak on data and AI ethics, privacy, and safety.

 

Current research and/or projects

My recent work has focussed on AI safety, primarily related to the assessment of AI explanations.

Education

B.Sc.(Hons.), M.Sc. Biochemistry, McMaster University

L.L.M. (Cybersecurity and Privacy), Osgoode Hall Law School (York University)

J.D. University of Toronto

Certification/Licenses/Trades

Registered patent agent and trade-mark agent - Canada

Admitted to the Bars of the Province of Ontario and the State of New York

Certified Information Privacy Professional/Canada (IAPP)

Project Management Professional (PMI)

Key publications

A list of my recent publications is available at:  https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4450-3048 

Previous work experience

NRC various: Head, Corporate Secretariate, Values and Ethics; A/DG Planning and Reporting, Mgr Planning and Performance (IRAP); Patent & Trade-Mark Agent & IP Advisor.

Ridout & Maybee:  IP attorney

Margaret McKay

Program Leader, Digital Technologies
Digital Technologies
1200 Montreal Road
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6
Preferred language: English
Telephone: 343-990-8335

Expertise

Digital technology, Information Technology, Human-computer interaction, Patents, Intellectual Property, Copyrights, Licensing, Scientific research, Sciences, Science Policy, Technology, Technology policy