Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently announced the launch of a new council to provide independent, practical advice on Canada’s AI transformation.
The Prime Minister’s National Council on Artificial Intelligence will bring together public and private stakeholders and advise on the evolution of the government’s AI for All strategy, including accelerating adoption, fostering national champions, and building sovereign AI infrastructure. Its members will advise on making AI safer, protecting our democracy, and ensuring that all Canadians prosper from AI, said the government.
The Council will convene Canada’s leading thinkers, builders, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, public servants, and international experts to advise on current challenges associated with AI, while helping to generate new ideas, partnerships, AI-focused missions, and initiatives. This includes world-leading experts on AI safety, governance, and oversight, it added.
“Prosperity and sovereignty in the age of AI belong to nations that can build, adopt, and govern AI on their own terms. This is Canada’s mission and it will require expertise and leadership from across the field. The new National Council on Artificial Intelligence will inform and advise the government on how to most effectively deploy AI in Canada – how to manage the risks, seize the opportunities, and ensure AI is used to improve the lives of all Canadians," said Carney.
The Prime Minister announced the following members:
Ajay Agrawal
Yoshua Bengio
Sanja Fidler
John Graham
Gillian Hadfield
Jordan Jacobs
Eric Lamarre
Valérie Pisano
Senator Thomas Pitfield
Jody Thomas
Louis Vachon
Michelle Zatlyn
Patrick Pichette (ex officio)
"Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way Canadians live, work, and connect. The speed, scale, and intensity of this transformation present both opportunities and challenges. Canada’s government has a pragmatic, ambitious, and informed plan to ensure all Canadians are empowered to use AI in a safe and sovereign way," said the government.
"AI for All is the government’s new national strategy to ensure that AI is adopted responsibly, in a way that truly serves all Canadians – building trust, expanding opportunities, and reinforcing our sovereignty. With investments, programs, and new measures underway, the strategy will help position Canada as a global leader in this field.
"Canada’s AI strategy is built around three clear objectives: building trust in AI, expanding opportunity for Canadians, and strengthening Canada’s sovereign control over critical AI capabilities. With the advice of the new National Council on Artificial Intelligence, the government will focus on turning Canadian innovation into stronger companies, better public services, good jobs, and greater economic security."