As a resource, and to buy time as I am writing more substantive blogs, I wanted to share a #CoachWill blog on new vocabulary, terminology that tomorrow’s immigration practitioners will need to know, learn, advise their clients on, and spend time with. I am still very much learning these terms and their impact, but it gives us a mutual starting point to grow our knowledge of how Canadian immigration law will be impacted moving forward:
Advanced Analytics: which is composed of both Predictive and Prescriptive components, consists of using computer technology to analyze past behaviours, with the goal of discovering patterns that enable predictions of future behaviours. With the aid of a team of computer science, data, IT, and program specialists, AA may result in the creation of a model that can perform risk triage and enable automated approvals on a portion of cases, thereby achieving significant productivity gains and reducing processing times. [As defined in IRCC’s China-Advanced Analytics TRV Privacy Impact Assessment]
Artificial Intelligence: Encompassing a broad range of technologies and approaches, Al is essentially the field of computer science dedicated to solving cognitive problems commonly associated with human intelligence, such as learning, problem solving, and pattern recognition. [As defined in IRCC’s Policy Playbook on Automation]
Automated decision support system: Includes any information technology designed to directly support a human decision-maker on an administrative decision (for example, by providing a recommendation), and/or designed to make an administrative decision in lieu of a human decision-maker. This includes systems like eTA or Visitor Record and Study Permit Extension automation in GCMS. [As defined in IRCC’s Policy Playbook on Automation]
Black Box: Opaque software tools working outside the scope of meaningful scrutiny and accountability. Usually deep learning systems. Their behaviour can be difficult to interpret and explain, raising concerns over explainability, transparency, and human control. [As defined in IRCC’s Policy Playbook on Automation]
Deep learning/neural network is a subset of machine learning, which is essentially a neural network with three or more layers. These neural networks attempt to simulate the behavior of the human brain—albeit far from matching its ability—allowing it to “learn” from large amounts of data. While a neural network with a single layer can still make approximate predictions, additional hidden layers can help to optimize and refine for accuracy. [As defined by IBM: https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/deep-learning#:~:text=Deep%20learning%20is%20a%20subset,from%20large%20amounts%20of%20data]
Exploration zone: The exploration zone – also referred to as a “sandbox” – is the environment used for
research, experimentation and testing related to advanced analytics and Al. Data, codes and software
are isolated from those in production so that they can be tested securely.
“Fettering” of a decision-maker’s discretion: Fettering occurs when a decision-maker does not
genuinely exercise independent judgment in a matter. This can occur when a decision-maker binds
him/herself to a fixed rule of policy, another person’s opinion, or the outputs of a decision support
system. Although an administrative decision-maker may properly be influenced by policy considerations
and other factors, he or she must put his or her mind to the specific circumstances of the case and not
focus blindly on one input (e.g. a risk score provided by an algorithmic system) to the exclusion of other
relevant factors. [As defined in IRCC’s Policy Playbook on Automation]
“Fettering” of a decision-maker’s discretion: Fettering occurs when a decision-maker does not
genuinely exercise independent judgment in a matter. This can occur when a decision-maker binds
him/herself to a fixed rule of policy, another person’s opinion, or the outputs of a decision support
system. Although an administrative decision-maker may properly be influenced by policy considerations
and other factors, he or she must put his or her mind to the specific circumstances of the case and not
focus blindly on one input (e.g. a risk score provided by an algorithmic system) to the exclusion of other
relevant factors. [As defined in IRCC’s Policy Playbook on Automation]
Machine learning: A sub-category of artificial intelligence, machine learning refers to algorithms and statistical models that learn and improve from examples, data, and experience, rather than following pre-programmed rules. Machine learning systems effectively perform a specific task without using explicit instructions, relying on models and inference instead. [As defined in IRCC’s Policy Playbook on Automation]
A minimum viable product (MVP) is a development technique in which a new product or website is developed with sufficient features to satisfy early adopters. The final, complete set of features is only designed and developed after considering feedback from the product’s initial users. [As defined by Techopedia – https://www.techopedia.com/definition/27809/minimum-viable-product-mvp]
Predictive Analytics: brings together advanced analytics capabilities spanning ad-hoc statistical analysis, predictive modeling, data mining, text analysis, optimization, real-time scoring and machine learning. These tools help organizations discover patterns in data and go beyond knowing what has happened to anticipating what is likely to happen next. [As defined in IRCC’s China-Advanced Analytics TRV Privacy Impact Assessment]
Prescriptive Analytics: Prescriptive Analytics is an advanced analytics technology that can provide recommendations to decision-makers and help them achieve business goals by solving complicated optimization problems. [As defined in IRCC’s China-Advanced Analytics TRV Privacy Impact Assessment]
Process automation: Also called “business automation” (and sometimes even “digital transformation”), process automation is the use of digital technology to perform routine business processes in a workflow. Process automation can streamline a business for simplicity and improve productivity by taking mundane repetitive tasks from humans and giving them to machines that can do them faster. A wide variety of activities can be automated, or more often, partially automated, with human intervention maintained at strategic points within workflows. In the domain of administrative decision-making at IRCC, “process automation” is used in contrast with “automated decision support,” the former referring to straightforward administrative tasks and the latter reserved for activities involving some degree of judgment. [As defined in IRCC’s Policy Playbook on Automation]
[Last Updated: 19 April 2022 – we will continue to update as new terms get updated]
