The Government of Canada has pledged to uphold the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to drive economic growth and safeguard its citizens in the digital era, while preserving Canada’s leadership in tomorrow’s economy.
Among the strategies discussed by the government’s Advisory Council on AI are stringent regulation, ethical use, and close collaboration with international partners.
As a part of these efforts, a new proposal for an Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) has been put forward to address the potential risks associated with AI. AIDA aims to foster trust in Canada’s AI industry and shield Canadians from any harms related to AI implementation.
In a recent announcement, Rachel Bendayan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, highlighted a substantial investment of over $124 million at the Université de Montréal.
The funding will be directed towards the R3AI: Shifting Paradigms for a Robust, Reasoning, and Responsible Artificial Intelligence and its Adoption initiative through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF).
CFREF’s investment, part of a $1.4 billion allocation supporting 11 large-scale research initiatives, will allow Canadian university researchers to leverage their research strengths and attract global talent.
The R3AI initiative focuses on implementing new responsible AI design and adoption strategies across essential areas, including molecule discovery, health systems improvements, and climate change mitigation.
This initiative aligns with CFREF’s broader objective of facilitating Canadian researchers in pioneering global insights and bolstering Canada’s social and technological innovation ecosystems.
By addressing significant issues such as disease prevention, carbon emissions, and making responsible AI-based discoveries, CFREF is aiding Canadian research and development efforts.
With these measures in place, the Government of Canada is positioning the country as a global leader in the responsible use and development of AI.
BusinessNewsCanada
