Notable initiatives have been made to support and build AI foundational strengths federally and provincially. That said, Canada's and BC's AI research policy is in a state of flux.
Important international winds of change are creating a unique opportunity for Canada and BC to attract talent in this rapidly growing and transformative field if we seize the opportunity.
BC has a unique foundational strengths, cultural, geographic proximity and climate advantages to build a cluster.
One recent recommendation came in the second report of Canada's Advisory Council on Economic Growth headed by Advisory Council Chair (UBC Grad and Oxford Rhodes Scholar) Dominic Barton
"Artificial intelligence
Canada has a strong history of innovation in artificial intelligence (AI). Some of the earliest AI developments came from Canadian researchers, and major Canadian research institutions
have moved to entrench their early advantage. This will have far-reaching impact on almost all sectors of our economy. However, the commercialization of AI research has been slowed by a few factors,
including a lack of coordination between research institutes and slow adoption by corporate and government customers.
An AI marketplace could strengthen Canada’s AI advantage in two ways:
- Bring together research capacity: Facilitate coordination between research and innovators at Canadian institutes in Toronto-Waterloo, Montreal, and Vancouver, while providing a common “brand” to attract innovators from abroad.
- Foster connections and promote early adoption: Bring AI innovators together with corporate and government customers to identify and solve real commercial challenges. This would provide
a “springboard” forAI technology to export globally, while enabling Canadian companies in a range of sectors to stay ahead of the technology curve"
Countries around the world are recognizing the strategic nature of AI and are investing heavily in AI research including study of its various social implications.
