How AI became part of everyday work at Seneca
In 2024 Seneca Polytechnic, one of Canada's largest polytechnics, named Kent and Panos its two AI Thought Leaders. Over three years we led its AI adoption from the bottom up, with policy and practice moving together.
One room, then the next. Colleagues who tried it showed colleagues who hadn't.
of colleagues in the AI community of practice we started
average rating for our hands-on workshops
course sections running MyTutor, the AI tutor we helped pilot, within five months
employees in a single institution-wide AI session
The same four steps we use with every client
Experience
People used AI on their own tasks, live, in hands-on workshops across the institution.
- Sessions for departments from marketing and events to academic schools
- Real work on the table, not a demo
- An institution-wide session that drew more than 80 employees
Understand
Dozens of consultations with faculty, staff and academic leaders, one problem at a time.
- Define the problem before choosing a tool
- Decide whether AI fits at all
- Name the risks and agree the next step
Redesign
Rules people could actually follow, and new ways of teaching with AI.
- We helped write Seneca's Generative AI Policy and turned it into everyday guidance
- A simple way to approve new AI tools, instead of one-off exceptions
- MyTutor, a course-grounded AI tutor, piloted in 21 course sections
Embed
Colleagues teaching colleagues, with places to go for help.
- A community of practice of hundreds of colleagues
- The AI Lab: training, consultation and early prototyping, with bookable sessions
- Input to Seneca's AI Governance Charter
From one room, outward
Tap a ring
It started in a room
Hands-on workshops where people used AI on their own tasks, live. Not a demo, not a policy deck.
- Departments from marketing and events to academic schools
- People applied AI to their own work during the session
Then colleagues showed colleagues
People who tried it brought others. Dozens of one-to-one consultations helped faculty and staff decide where AI fits and where it doesn't.
- A community of practice that grew to hundreds of colleagues
- MyTutor, a course-grounded AI tutor, in 21 course sections
Then the institution changed how it works
Practice turned into rules people could follow, and a place to build.
- Seneca's Generative AI Policy, turned into everyday guidance
- A simple way to approve new AI tools
- The AI Lab, from the case to the Senior Executive Committee to opening day
- Input to Seneca's AI Governance Charter
Then others asked how
Companies, public bodies and conferences wanted the same approach.
- Microsoft, Lloyds Bank, the Canadian Armed Forces and the University of the West Indies
- Workplace AI programs for First Quantum Minerals, i3 International and İGA Istanbul Airport
- Polytechnics Canada and international conferences
Learned to be way less fearful of AI.
Workshop participant
Walking away with practical knowledge that will assist me in my day-to-day work.
Workshop participant
Demonstration on the tools available to us and having us apply it to our work.
Workshop participant
The facilitators were very engaging, inspiring, and pushed us to think outside the box.
Workshop participant
A community that keeps going
We started Seneca's AI community of practice so people could share what worked, ask questions and help each other. It grew from a handful of people to hundreds of colleagues. Each node is one member.
Alongside it, the AI Lab gave the community a home: a place to try ideas, get help and build early prototypes together.
Not just how many prototypes reached production
When the AI Lab's success measures were set, we argued it shouldn't be judged only by how many prototypes went into production. Stopping or redirecting a project for good reasons is a result too. We bring the same thinking to every client: measure what matters, not what is easy to count.
What others wrote about the work
- Seneca Polytechnic professors offer expertise in generative artificial intelligence, Seneca News: the announcement of Seneca's first AI Thought Leaders
- Seneca embraces AI so students will be 'future-ready', Markham Review
- Seneca's groundbreaking AI Lab opens at Newnham Campus, Seneca News
- Program Preview: Navigating Artificial Intelligence Responsibly, Polytechnics Canada, on our Showcase session
Want the same in your organization?
We run the same four steps with companies, public bodies and leadership teams. Start with one real piece of work.