Galen is currently in his first year of the joint JD/MA program at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. Before law school, Galen completed an honors bachelors in Conflict Studies and Human Rights at the University of Ottawa. He became interested in the intersection of technology and the law after doing research on how technology can help in advancing systems of law in developing countries. This interest was initiated as he spent most of his life growing up in Egypt, Kenya and Indonesia where he saw firsthand how a lack of technology in law hindered judicial advancement.

Galen draws his interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) from when he first watched the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. Although the film came from a time when the ethical implications of AI were not as pronounced as today, the consequences it presents are more realistic than ever. With more and more machines being allowed to control decisions that impact peoples lives, the repercussions of such decisions need to be analyzed further.

Galen continues to question and discuss the role that the government has in the regulation of new technologies such as AI. He believes that if the government does not look forward in creating regulations for AI and emerging technologies then people may be left in reliance on a machine such as Hal. This is a future that can be avoided by conducting research and posing pressing questions to governments and private institutions.

He is excited about continuing to explore these research questions and many more with the CRAiEDL team!