Kaitlyn Regehr leads global effort to help society navigate the impacts of AI

Sep 3, 2026

*The Schwartz Reisman Institute has appointed internationally recognized digital culture and AI literacy scholar* *Kaitlyn Regehr* *as its inaugural Global Fellow.*

The Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society (SRI) at the University of Toronto is pleased to announce that Kaitlyn Regehr has been appointed as the Institute’s inaugural Global Fellow for the 2026–27 academic year. In concert with her SRI fellowship, Regehr has been appointed as Associate Professor, Status Only at the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto.

An Associate Professor of Digital Humanities at University College London, Regehr is internationally recognized for her interdisciplinary research on digital culture, algorithmic systems, online safety, and AI literacy. Her work examines how digital technologies shape social behaviour, mental health, public discourse, and democratic life, with a particular focus on the social impacts of platform economies and algorithmic recommendation systems.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kaitlyn Regehr as SRI’s inaugural Global Fellow,” said SRI Director David Lie. “Her work exemplifies the kind of interdisciplinary, publicly engaged scholarship that is essential for understanding and shaping the societal impacts of AI and digital technologies. Kaitlyn’s leadership on digital literacy, online safety, and public communication aligns strongly with SRI’s mission to support research and dialogue that advances the public good.”

Understanding the implications of AI

Regehr will join SRI to lead RISE: Responsible Intelligence, Safety and Education, a large-scale digital and AI awareness-building campaign that will aim to work across research-intensive universities around the world. Grounded in a public health model, the RISE initiative will build understanding and engagement around how AI is shaping society – particularly its impacts on children, young people, and their futures. Drawing on evidence-based research, the project aims to equip the public with the knowledge required to make informed decisions and to catalyze collective action that can ultimately inform policy and legislative change.

Kaitlyn’s leadership on digital literacy, online safety, and public communication aligns strongly with SRI’s mission to support research and dialogue that advances the public good.

Regehr has played a significant role in informing public policy and legislation related to online harms and digital safety in the United Kingdom. Most recently, her research contributed to the development of the UK’s Online Safety Act. She has also provided consultation and expert testimony to the House of Lords, Members of Parliament, the Metropolitan Police, The Children’s Commissioner, the Scottish Government, and Prevent.

Kaitlyn’s leadership on digital literacy, online safety, and public communication aligns strongly with SRI’s mission to support research and dialogue that advances the public good.

“I am honoured to join the Schwartz Reisman Institute as its inaugural Global Fellow and to work with partners across institutions through the RISE initiative,” said Regehr. “AI technologies are rapidly encroaching on childhood and shaping how young people learn, communicate, and understand the world around them. We need to give families, educators, communities and elected officials the tools to recognize these influences and make informed choices. By approaching digital and AI literacy as a shared public responsibility, we can build the knowledge and momentum needed to support meaningful policy change.”

Public scholarship and digital literacy

Beyond academia and policymaking, Regehr is widely recognized for her public-facing work on digital literacy and online culture. She is committed to making complex technological issues accessible to broad audiences through broadcasting, journalism, and public scholarship.

Her work has been featured across major international media outlets including CNN, BBC News, USA Today, and The Guardian. She has been interviewed by Oprah Winfrey for The Oprah Podcast, and regularly contributes commentary on the social and psychological impacts of algorithmic systems, platform economies, and smartphone culture.

In recent public commentary and talks, Regehr has explored how recommendation systems and engagement-driven technologies shape behaviour, attention, and family life, emphasizing the need for stronger forms of digital and AI literacy in everyday life. Her public lectures and media appearances have focused on helping audiences better understand the hidden influence of algorithmic systems and the broader societal implications of AI-driven technologies.

The author of Smartphone Nation

Regehr is also the author of the international bestselling book Smartphone Nation (2025), published by Penguin Random House. Drawing on research in psychology, neuroscience, and digital culture, the book examines the effects of smartphone and social media use on attention, wellbeing, and social development – particularly among young people.

In the book, Regehr argues that many digital platforms are intentionally designed to maximize engagement and dependency, and calls for a broader public understanding of how algorithmic systems shape everyday behaviour. The book has contributed to international conversations around digital wellness, youth mental health, and responsible technology use.

As SRI’s inaugural Global Fellow, Regehr will contribute to the Institute’s interdisciplinary research community through public lectures, collaborative initiatives, and engagement with students and researchers across the University of Toronto. Her appointment reflects SRI’s continued commitment to convening leading international voices working at the intersection of technology, governance, culture, and society.

Additional programming and event details related to Regehr’s fellowship will be announced in the coming months.

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