AI ecosystem research

AI Interview
Research Project

Interviews with AI and data science professionals, professors, government leaders, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs exploring how funding, policy, commercialization, and entrepreneurship shape Ontario’s AI ecosystem.

Dr. Ganesh Mani

Dr. Ganesh Mani is a professor of practice and adjunct faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University. He previously served as Carnegie Mellon’s Distinguished Service Professor of Innovation Practice and as the inaugural Director of Collaborative AI. Dr. Mani co-founded Advanced Investment Technology, an AI- and machine-learning-driven investment firm later acquired by State Street Global Advisors. He also founded The Global Innovation Center, where he works on data- and AI-informed strategy and innovation, and previously served as President of TiE Pittsburgh, supporting entrepreneurs and early-stage ventures.

Carmi Levy

Technology analyst and journalist who works with Canadian media organizations including CTV, CBC, and the Canadian Press.

Yuanhui Lang

Director of AI and Data Science at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan with approximately 25 years of experience in AI.

Professor Chris Bell

Professor at York University’s Schulich School of Business whose research focuses on organizations, ethics, and decision-making.

Eric Mao

Founder of FreeSolo, a Silicon Valley startup that participated in Y Combinator. He studied computer science and finance at the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher M&T Program before leaving to build the company full time.

Rishabh Sharma

University of Waterloo computer science student developing an early-stage AI project in medical technology.

FeiFei (Zifei) Han

Founder of MYLS AI and a human-centred multimodal AI researcher at the University of Toronto, with previous experience in AI research at Carnegie Mellon University and AI consulting at Deloitte.

Han Yan

Founder of Easy Save, an AI-powered marketplace for merchants and consumers.

Upcoming

Kristen Perry

Strategy and impact investment leader at Spring Activator, an incubator and accelerator that supports entrepreneurs through funding, growth, and connections across Canada’s startup ecosystem.

Upcoming

Prathna Ramesh

Partner at FutureSight, a venture studio that co-creates and invests in B2B AI and SaaS startups; previously Managing Director of Maple Leaf Angels, one of Canada’s leading angel investor networks.