Whether we call them Deus Ex Machina (from The Matrix) or Terminator, artificial intelligence systems have been at the center of multiple science fiction movies. The box-office success of such movies makes it safe to say that the public’s interest is sparked by the idea of a “robotic superintelligence” that could exceed human cognitive capacities. Still, the artificial intelligence field remains unknown to many and it is an exciting domain in which Canada (and Montreal in particular) is starting to emerge as a significant player. In this context, I sat down with Dave Anctil, a philosophy professor at College Jean-de-Brébeuf, who teaches a class entitled “Penser l’intelligence artificielle” (Thinking artificial intelligence). 1)       What are your qualifications regarding the subject of AI? Have you ever worked directly in the field? First of all, as an ethicist and a political scientist, I have been studying closely military intelligent systems for about...

“Study drugs”, a problematic reality A study conducted with more than 10,000 college students from across the country found that more than half of students with an Adderall or other ADHD drug prescription were asked to sell the medication to peers and friends. The problem at hand is none other than the misuse of methylphenidate, more commonly known as the drug prescribed to people with either attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or attention deficit disorder (ADD). People that use it for a medical purpose have symptoms such as impulsive behaviour and lack of concentration and motivation, yet more and more people are using them for reasons other than its original intent.