#Canada #Montreal #Mila #AI Research #Hugo Larochelle

New Leadership in AI Research at Mila

Mila, the renowned Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, has recently announced the appointment of Hugo Larochelle as its new Scientific Director. This marks a significant milestone for the institute, recognized globally for its contributions to artificial intelligence (AI).

Hugo Larochelle, who also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Université de Montréal, succeeds Laurent Charlin, who temporarily filled the director position following the transition of Yoshua Bengio to his new role as the founder and Scientific Advisor of Mila. The pivotal change in management comes at a time when AI technology is evolving at an unprecedented speed, positioning Mila to make further impactful contributions to the field.

Larochelle is a well-respected figure in AI, notably recognized for his groundbreaking work in deep learning. His career includes a unique blend of academic and corporate experience, bringing insights from some of the most competitive AI research environments. “Taking on the role of Scientific Director, I carry with me both enthusiasm and a sense of duty,” Larochelle stated, emphasizing Mila's reputation and talent pool.

The collective endeavor at Mila seeks to pursue research that leads to significant scientific breakthroughs while benefiting society at large. The appointment highlights Larochelle's vision for the institute, particularly at this strategic point in AI research, where Canadian institutions can significantly influence global technological advancements.

Valérie Pisano, President and CEO of Mila, praised Larochelle’s ability to merge scientific excellence with an understanding of broader technological challenges. The global landscape of AI has reached a crucial juncture, and Mila is strategically positioned to tackle current challenges and seize new opportunities under Larochelle's guidance.

Larochelle's impressive track record stems from his formative years under the mentorship of AI pioneers Yoshua Bengio and Geoffrey Hinton. He has significantly impacted the AI community, including the popularization of autoregressive modeling through neural networks—a fundamental concept in generative AI today. Furthermore, he played a vital role in establishing the startup Whetlab, acquired by Twitter in 2015, enhancing his transition into leadership at Google's AI research lab in Montreal, now part of Google DeepMind.

His dual commitment to academia and industry ensures that Larochelle not only leads Mila's innovative research agenda but also nurtures the next generation of AI researchers. His appointment comes after a meticulous selection process, reinforcing the institute's dedication to excellence in the field.

As Larochelle embarks on this new journey, his responsibilities as Scientific Director will include chairing the Scientific Council and shaping the research strategies that steer Mila towards its ambitious goals. The institute, founded by Yoshua Bengio, is recognized as a leading academic center for deep learning in the world, uniting over 1,500 specialized researchers to propel scientific advancements in AI.

With the support of the Canadian government and the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, Mila aims to inspire innovation and foster the growth of AI technologies that benefit society. As the institute steps into a new era of leadership under Larochelle, the AI community eagerly anticipates the promising developments that will emerge from this collaboration.

To learn more about Mila's vision and the ongoing research in AI, visit their official website.