Maroussia Lévesque: Shaping the Rules of Artificial Intelligence

By looking at how power, law, and technology intersect, Maroussia Lévesque has become one of the most thoughtful voices in AI governance today.

A Clear Voice in a Noisy AI Debate

Artificial intelligence is moving fast. Rules are not.
That gap is where Maroussia Lévesque works.

Lévesque is an AI governance researcher and legal scholar who focuses on how artificial intelligence is regulated, who holds power in the AI economy, and how public values can be translated into real technical standards. Her work sits at the crossroads of law, technology, and global governance.

“I don’t study AI because it’s trendy,” she says. “I study it because it quietly shapes who has power, who is seen, and who is left out.”

Today, Lévesque is a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) candidate at Harvard Law School. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Center for International Governance Innovation and a longtime contributor to global conversations about AI accountability.

Early Roots in Montreal

Lévesque grew up in Montreal, a city shaped by multiple languages and cultures, with thriving underground scenes conducive to experimentation. That environment left an early mark.

“Montreal teaches you early that systemic policies matter,” she says. “Cheap rent, a good social net, and accessible education – these things matter to nurture creative thinking and risk-taking.”

Her first academic path was not law. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Computation Arts from Concordia University. That mix of creativity and code would later define her approach to AI.

“Studying art and computation helped me see technology as something designed by people, not something neutral,” she explains.

Law as a Tool for Accountability

After Concordia, Lévesque earned her JD from McGill Law. There, she developed a strong interest in public institutions.

She went on to clerk for the Chief Justice of the Quebec Court of Appeal. The experience gave her a close look at how legal systems handle complex and emerging issues.

“You see how careful courts have to be when their decisions affect not only the parties before it, but also send a broader signal to society,” she says. “That tension stayed with me.”

She later worked on Quebec’s public inquiry commission on electronic surveillance. The role placed her at the center of debates about privacy, state power, and digital oversight.

“That work made it clear that oversight can’t be an afterthought,” she says. “By the time harm comes to light, it’s often too late.”

From Government to Global AI Governance

Lévesque then joined Global Affairs Canada, where she led work on AI and human rights. This role exposed her to international power dynamics and market concentration in the tech sector.

“AI governance isn’t just about ethics,” she says. “It’s about trade, labor, and whose standards become global norms.”

Her research began focusing more deeply on market concentration and the imbalance between large private actors and public institutions. She also became interested in technical standards as a bridge between high-level principles and real-world implementation.

“Principles are easy to agree on,” she says. “Standards are where the real decisions get locked in.”

Harvard, Berkman Klein, and Research Leadership

At Harvard Law School, Lévesque pursued a master’s degree and then entered the SJD program. Her doctoral research centers on AI regulation, governance structures, and institutional design.

Since 2022, she has co-led the AI Governance Working Group at the Berkman Klein Center. The group brings together researchers, technologists, and policymakers.

“Tech workers often act as the industry’s conscience,” she says. “They see problems before regulators do.”

She is also a Graduate Student Affiliate and Fellow at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs and a member of the Indigenous-led Abundant Intelligences project, which explores alternative models of intelligence and governance.

Publishing Where Policy Meets Practice

Lévesque’s scholarship has appeared in the NYU Journal of Law & Public Policy and conference proceedings such as NeurIPS. She also writes for broader audiences.

Her essays have appeared in The Guardian, Toronto Star, La Presse, and Tech Policy Press.

“I care about writing for people who don’t have time to read a 60-page paper,” she says. “Policy only works if people can understand it.”

Across platforms, her work emphasizes clarity, restraint, and institutional responsibility rather than hype.

A Grounded Perspective on Influence

Despite her growing influence, Lévesque avoids grand claims.

“I don’t think of myself as having all the answers,” she says. “I just ask uncomfortable questions at the right time.”

Outside of research, she keeps simple interests. She describes herself as an amateur hot sauce enthusiast, a small reminder that even the most seasoned policy thinkers have everyday passions.

She also volunteered as legal counsel with Lawyers Without Borders in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

“That work grounded me,” she says. “It reminded me who governance is really for.”

Why Her Work Matters Now

As governments race to respond to AI, Lévesque’s work stands out for its focus on structure over spectacle. She examines who writes the rules, who benefits from them, and how technical choices become political ones.

“AI governance is not about stopping technology,” she says. “It’s about deciding who gets to decide.”

In an industry often driven by speed and scale, Maroussia Lévesque represents something different: slow thinking, careful design, and accountability built into the system itself.