About SIF
A global community of practice for AI practitioners since 2017
Our Mission
The Synthetic Intelligence Forum connects data scientists, AI researchers, and machine learning engineers worldwide through expert-led sessions, community discussions, and professional networking.
We believe in making cutting-edge AI knowledge accessible to practitioners at all levels. Our sessions feature world-class speakers from academia and industry, covering topics from foundational concepts to the latest research breakthroughs.
Why "Synthetic" Intelligence?
Our name is inspired by philosopher John Haugeland's important distinction between "artificial" and "synthetic":
- • "Artificial" implies "not real" or fake — like artificial flowers or artificial sweeteners
- • "Synthetic" implies "created by intelligent agency" — like synthetic diamonds, which are real diamonds created through a deliberate process
Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Reinforcement Learning are REAL technologies that exist and do real work in the world. They deserve recognition as genuine, not imitation.
"If 'data is the new oil' then Synthetic Intelligence spans the value chain from the oil well to the internal combustion engine!"
Our History
Founded
Synthetic Intelligence Forum launched as an in-person meetup community in Toronto, bringing together AI practitioners for monthly sessions.
In-Person Era
Regular meetups with speakers from academia and industry. The community grew to thousands of members in the Toronto area.
Corporate Partnerships
Partnered with Google Cloud, AWS, and other technology leaders to bring enterprise AI perspectives to the community.
Global Virtual Sessions
Transitioned to virtual expert sessions, expanding our reach globally. Now hosting world-class speakers from Stanford, Bloomberg, Cohere, and more.
Founder
Vik Pant, PhD
Principal, Applied AI and Quantum Information at PwC US
Vik founded the Synthetic Intelligence Forum in 2017 to create a space where AI practitioners could learn from each other and stay current with the rapidly evolving field. His background spans academia, government, and industry, giving him a unique perspective on building communities that bridge these worlds.
Learn more about Vik →By the Numbers
24,000+
YouTube Subscribers
53+
Video Sessions
3,400+
LinkedIn Followers
8
Years Running
Partner With Us
Interested in sponsoring a session, hosting an event, or exploring other partnership opportunities? We'd love to hear from you.
Get in Touch