This month, we are highlighting the extremely relevant research of Schallum Pierre, Part-Time Professor in the School of Social Communication.
His work focuses on the ethical governance of artificial intelligence, at the intersection of international standardization and security, particularly in the face of hybrid threats and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems. As a member of the Canadian mirror committee for ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42, he helps position Canada as a leading player in the responsible governance of AI in high-risk sectors.
Below, he shares what drew him to this field of research, what he wishes more people understood about it, and where you can go to learn more.
What inspired you to choose this field of research?
My background in philosophy and then in bioethics has made me acutely aware of power dynamics and the asymmetrical impacts of technology on populations and institutions. As I witnessed artificial intelligence rapidly gaining a foothold in high-risk sectors — healthcare, security, and defense — without adequate governance frameworks, I wanted to channel this ethical awareness toward developing concrete and enforceable regulations at the intersection of international standardization and security.
What are 3 things you wish people knew about your field of research?
- AI governance is not just a technical issue; it is a matter of power and trust. Frameworks such as ISO/IEC 42001 are not just for checking compliance boxes; they determine who bears responsibility when an AI system causes harm, and who truly benefits from the innovation.
- AI security and ethics are not competing priorities. In fields such as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), poorly regulated AI itself becomes a source of risk; ethical rigor is a prerequisite for resilience, not an obstacle to it.
- Canada has a role to play on the international stage. Through forums such as the Canadian mirror committee of ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42, we can use soft power to ethically influence global AI standards rather than simply being subject to them, but this requires investing in this standards expertise now.
Can you recommend any resources for those who want to learn more about your field of research?
For a technical introduction, the ISO/IEC 42001:2023 standard (AI management system) and the publications from the NIST AI Risk Management Framework provide solid reference frameworks.
Regarding the link between AI and security, I recommend following the work of the Institut intelligence et données (IID) at Laval University, the International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of AI and Digital Technology, and the Canadian committee of ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42, which periodically publishes some of its findings.
I also invite those interested to read my two recent articles, which address these issues from two complementary perspectives (available in French only):
- « Éthique de l’IA : gestion des risques et impacts selon ISO/IEC 42001:2023 », Techniques de l’Ingénieur, 10 March 2026.
- « L’intelligence artificielle dans l’ISR : défis éthiques et perspectives canadiennes face aux menaces hybrides », Revue Défense Nationale, 886(1), pp. 93-99.
Thank you, Schallum, for sharing your insights!