TL;DR:
- The Government of Canada is committed to promoting responsible AI development and usage.
- Canada collaborates with international partners to advocate for prudent regulatory approaches to AI.
- The government proposes the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) to address potential risks and build trust in Canada’s AI industry.
- An investment of over $124 million is made in the R3AI initiative at the Université de Montréal.
- The R3AI initiative focuses on implementing responsible AI design and adoption strategies.
- The investment supports research areas, including molecule discovery, health systems improvement, and climate change mitigation.
- The Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) provides $1.4 billion in funding for 11 large-scale research initiatives.
- CFREF empowers Canadian universities to attract talent, capitalize on research strengths, and drive social and technological innovation.
Main AI News:
In an era marked by remarkable technological advancements, artificial intelligence (AI) stands out as one of the greatest achievements of our time, exerting a significant influence on the lives of Canadians. Acknowledging the need to promote responsible AI development and usage, the Government of Canada actively collaborates with industry leaders, civil society representatives, and academic experts through the Advisory Council on AI. With a commitment to fostering responsible AI practices, Canada is positioning itself as a global leader, bolstering economic growth, safeguarding its citizens in the digital age, and maintaining its prominence in tomorrow’s economy.
The Canadian government places a strong emphasis on collaborating with international partners to ensure responsible AI development and utilization. Garnering international recognition for its ethical and responsible approach, Canada actively engages with its counterparts through platforms like the G7 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to advocate for prudent and interoperable regulatory frameworks for AI. Notably, Canada played a significant role in the establishment of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, a consortium of 29 member governments working collectively to steer AI technologies towards shared values. Moreover, the Canadian government holds bilateral discussions with like-minded nations, actively shaping the future of global AI regulation.
Addressing concerns associated with the potential risks of rapid and extensive deployment of advanced generative AI systems, the government takes these matters seriously and is dedicated to addressing them effectively. In line with this commitment, the government proposes the introduction of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA). This comprehensive legislation aims to mitigate the potential risks of AI, foster trust in Canada’s AI industry, and protect citizens from various forms of harm. Through AIDA, Canada aspires to become a global hub for responsible and trustworthy AI.
Today, Rachel Bendayan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, representing the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced a substantial investment of over $124 million in the R3AI initiative at the Université de Montréal. This funding, made possible through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF), contributes to a broader $1.4 billion investment supporting 11 large-scale research initiatives. By capitalizing on their respective areas of research expertise and attracting top-tier talent and capital, Canadian university researchers can leverage this investment to make significant strides in areas vital to Canada, such as molecule discovery, health systems improvement, and climate change mitigation.
The R3AI initiative represents a proactive effort to implement responsible AI design and adoption strategies, focusing on key areas that hold significance for Canada. By pioneering advancements in the treatment and prevention of brain and heart diseases, reducing carbon emissions in communities, and unlocking discoveries through the responsible use of AI, robotics, and advanced computing, CFREF empowers Canadian researchers to generate invaluable global insights while strengthening the country’s social and technological innovation ecosystems.
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, expressed his thoughts on the investment, stating, “Today’s research is tomorrow’s innovation. In the case of artificial intelligence, Canada is home to some of the world’s leading AI researchers and the world’s first fully funded AI strategy. Through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, our government is proud to move even further ahead by investing $124 million into responsible artificial intelligence research. Canada will continue to lead on AI research, governance, and innovation, including in drug discovery, health technology, and climate change mitigation.“
Rachel Bendayan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, emphasized the pivotal role of Université de Montréal in advancing responsible AI adoption, saying, “The Université de Montréal is home to ground-breaking research that is key to transforming the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence. The federal government is proud to support our researchers and our local universities with projects that lead to important social and economic benefits for all Canadians.“
Ted Hewitt, Chair of the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat Steering Committee and President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada highlighted the potential of Canada’s post-secondary institutions in addressing critical global challenges. He noted, “Canada’s post-secondary institutions are rich in talent and ideas and are committed to building healthier, more sustainable, more inclusive, and more prosperous communities. With support from the federal government’s Canada First Research Excellence Fund, they can build on these foundations to develop advanced research programs that showcase Canadian talent and lead the world in developing solutions to the critical challenges facing our planet, including environmental sustainability, advanced biotherapeutics, child health, and population migration.”
Daniel Jutras, Rector of the Université de Montréal, expressed gratitude for the Canada First Research Excellence Fund grant, emphasizing the university’s dedication to cultivating reasoned, robust, and responsibly designed AI for the greater good. He stated, “Our R3AI project takes us down a necessary path: using a strongly interdisciplinary approach to develop reasoned, robust, resolutely responsible artificial intelligence that serves the common good. Thanks to the Canada First Research Excellence Fund grant, the Université de Montréal and its partners will be able to strengthen the leadership we have built up over the years.”
Quick facts:
- Established in 2014, the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) empowers Canadian post-secondary institutions to become global research leaders by supporting breakthrough discoveries, forging partnerships, and strategically advancing their strengths on the global stage.
- Through a competitive peer review process held every seven years, CFREF invests approximately $200 million per year to enhance the capabilities of selected Canadian post-secondary institutions, enabling them to compete with world-class talent.
- Administered by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat, housed at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), CFREF represents a tri-agency institutional program supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and SSHRC.
- CFREF selects initiatives through an independent, multidisciplinary, and international competitive peer review process.
- The Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy (PCAIS), initiated in 2017 with a $125 million investment, aimed to establish a strong Canadian talent pipeline and ecosystem in partnership with the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR). Budget 2021 allocated over $443 million for the second phase of the strategy, supporting AI commercialization, standards, talent, and research.
- Since 2017, Canada CIFAR AI Chairs have recruited over 125 top researchers, half of whom are international, and the national AI institutes have trained more than 1,600 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, including many international students attracted by the institutes’ recognized strengths.
Conclusion:
The Government of Canada’s support for responsible AI research at the Université de Montréal, along with its commitment to promoting ethical AI practices and collaboration with international partners, highlights the country’s dedication to maintaining its leadership in the global AI landscape. The proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) demonstrates Canada’s proactive approach to addressing potential risks and fostering trust in the AI industry.
The significant investment through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) enables Canadian universities to advance research programs, attract top talent, and contribute to solutions for critical challenges. This commitment to responsible AI research positions Canada’s market as an attractive hub for innovation, attracting investment and fostering the growth of a robust AI ecosystem.
