[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.27,0:00:02.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About two years ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:02.48,0:00:04.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I got a phone call that changed my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.69,0:00:08.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Hey, this is your cousin Hassen."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.48,0:00:10.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I froze.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.10,0:00:14.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, I have well over\N30 first cousins,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.23,0:00:16.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I didn't know anybody named Hassen.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.71,0:00:20.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It turned out that Hassen\Nwas actually my mom's cousin
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.37,0:00:22.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and had just arrived\Nin Montreal as a refugee.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.42,0:00:24.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And over the next few months,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.96,0:00:28.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would have three more relatives\Ncoming to Canada to apply for asylum
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.32,0:00:30.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with little more than\Nthe clothes on their back.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.64,0:00:33.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in the two years\Nsince that phone call,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.69,0:00:35.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my life has completely changed.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.16,0:00:37.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I left academia
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.41,0:00:41.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and now lead a diverse team\Nof technologists, researchers and refugees
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.86,0:00:45.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is developing customized\Nself-help resources for newcomers.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.42,0:00:50.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We want to help them overcome\Nlanguage, cultural and other barriers
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.49,0:00:54.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that make them feel like they've lost\Ncontrol over their own lives.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.07,0:00:57.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we feel that AI can help restore\Nthe rights and the dignity
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.26,0:00:59.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that many people lose when seeking help.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.56,0:01:03.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My family's refugee experience\Nis not unique.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.38,0:01:06.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,According to the UNHCR,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.18,0:01:09.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every minute, 20 people\Nare newly displaced
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.27,0:01:11.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by climate change, economic crisis
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.68,0:01:13.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and social and political instability.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.44,0:01:17.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it was while volunteering\Nat a local YMCA shelter
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.26,0:01:20.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that my cousin Hassen\Nand other relatives were sent to
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.25,0:01:22.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we saw and learned to appreciate
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.59,0:01:26.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how much effort and coordination\Nresettlement requires.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.04,0:01:30.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When you first arrive,\Nyou need to find a lawyer
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.55,0:01:33.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and fill out legal documents\Nwithin two weeks.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.05,0:01:37.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You also need to schedule a medical exam\Nwith a pre-authorized physician,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.11,0:01:39.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just so that you can apply\Nfor a work permit.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.68,0:01:42.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you need to start looking\Nfor a place to live
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.10,0:01:44.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before you receive\Nany sort of social assistance.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.72,0:01:48.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With thousands fleeing the United States
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.86,0:01:51.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to seek asylum in Canada\Nover the past few years,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.22,0:01:52.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we quickly saw what it looks like
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.89,0:01:56.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when there are more people who need help\Nthan there are resources to help them.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.00,0:01:59.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Social services doesn't scale quickly,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.97,0:02:02.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even if communities do their best
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.54,0:02:05.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to help more people\Nwith limited resources,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.31,0:02:07.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,newcomers end up spending\Nmore time waiting in limbo,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.96,0:02:09.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not knowing where to turn.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.46,0:02:11.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In Montreal, for example,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.94,0:02:15.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,despite millions of dollars being spent\Nto support resettlement efforts,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.67,0:02:18.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nearly 50 percent of newcomers\Nstill don't know
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.22,0:02:20.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there are free resources that exist
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.55,0:02:23.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to help them with everything\Nfrom filling out paperwork
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.17,0:02:24.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to finding a job.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.29,0:02:28.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The challenge is not\Nthat this information doesn't exist.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.06,0:02:33.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the contrary, those in need are often\Nbombarded with so much information
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.49,0:02:35.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it's difficult\Nto make sense of it all.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.96,0:02:40.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Don't give me more information,\Njust tell me what to do,"
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.52,0:02:43.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was a sentiment we heard\Nover and over again.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.74,0:02:47.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it reflects how insanely difficult\Nit could be to get your bearings
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.46,0:02:49.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you first arrive in a new country.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.60,0:02:54.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hell, I struggled with the same issues\Nwhen I got to Montreal,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.38,0:02:55.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I have a PhD.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.23,0:02:57.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.07,0:03:00.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As another member of our team,\Nhimself also a refugee, put it:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.00,0:03:05.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"In Canada, a SIM card\Nis more important than food,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.30,0:03:07.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we will not die from hunger."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.00,0:03:11.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But getting access to the right\Nresources and information
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.32,0:03:14.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can be the difference\Nbetween life and death.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.46,0:03:16.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let me say that again:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.92,0:03:20.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,getting access to the right\Nresources and information
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.07,0:03:23.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can be the difference\Nbetween life and death.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.35,0:03:26.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In order to address these issues,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.98,0:03:28.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we built Atar,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.69,0:03:31.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the first-ever AI-powered virtual advocate
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.63,0:03:34.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that guides you step-by-step\Nthrough your first week
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.26,0:03:35.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of arriving in a new city.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.78,0:03:37.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just tell Atar what you need help with.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.75,0:03:40.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Atar will then ask you\Nsome basic questions
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.86,0:03:42.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to understand your unique circumstances
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.93,0:03:45.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and determine your eligibility\Nfor resources.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.85,0:03:48.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example: Do you have\Na place to stay tonight?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.84,0:03:52.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If not, would you prefer\Nan all-women's shelter?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.23,0:03:54.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do you have children?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.44,0:03:58.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Atar will then generate\Na custom, step-by-step to-do list
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.61,0:04:00.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that tells you everything\Nthat you need to know,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.92,0:04:03.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from where to go, how to get there,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.67,0:04:04.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what to bring with you
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.90,0:04:06.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what to expect.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.92,0:04:09.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can ask a question at any time,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.34,0:04:11.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if Atar doesn't have an answer,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.05,0:04:13.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you'll be connected\Nwith a real person who does.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.78,0:04:16.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what's most exciting
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.08,0:04:20.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that we help humanitarian\Nand service organizations
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.18,0:04:24.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,collect the data and the analytics\Nthat's necessary to understand
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.24,0:04:25.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the changing needs of newcomers
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.88,0:04:27.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in real time.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.90,0:04:29.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's a game changer.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.28,0:04:32.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We've already partnered with the UNHCR
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.34,0:04:34.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to provide this technology in Canada,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.24,0:04:38.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in our work have conducted\Ncampaigns in Arabic, English,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.07,0:04:40.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,French, Creole and Spanish.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.25,0:04:45.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we talk about the issue of refugees,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.20,0:04:47.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we often focus on the official statistic
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.24,0:04:51.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of 65.8 million forcibly\Ndisplaced worldwide.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.87,0:04:54.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the reality is much greater than that.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.19,0:05:00.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By 2050, there will be\Nan additional 140 million people
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.38,0:05:03.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who are at risk of being displaced\Ndue to environmental degradation.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.41,0:05:09.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And today -- that is today --\Nthere are nearly one billion people
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.22,0:05:12.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who already live in illegal\Nsettlements and slums.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.36,0:05:15.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Resettlement and integration
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.32,0:05:17.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is one of the greatest\Nchallenges of our time.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.88,0:05:23.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and our hope is that Atar can provide\Nevery single newcomer an advocate.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.21,0:05:27.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our hope is that Atar\Ncan amplify existing efforts
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.51,0:05:31.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and alleviate pressure\Non a social safety net
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.19,0:05:33.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's already stretched\Nbeyond imagination.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.18,0:05:37.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what's most important to us
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.65,0:05:42.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that our work helps restore\Nthe rights and the dignity
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.28,0:05:45.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that refugees lose throughout\Nresettlement and integration
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.86,0:05:50.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by giving them the resources that\Nthey need in order to help themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.20,0:05:51.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.45,0:05:54.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)