The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, has announced the launch of a consultation on AI Compute, aimed at gathering feedback to guide the development of measures for the $2 billion investment from Budget 2024.
This consultation, open from June 26 to September 6, 2024, will influence the creation of the AI Compute Access Fund and a Canadian AI Sovereign Compute Strategy. It will also include the AI Blueprint, a discussion paper outlining Canada’s AI ambitions and opportunities.
“Artificial intelligence offers workers and business incredible opportunity, and Canada has proudly always been a leader. This consultation will harness Canadian leadership, from researchers to end users, to help make sure that Canada continues to keep its advantage and that our economy is well positioned to take advantage of all the opportunities of AI. This will strengthen and secure Canada’s AI advantage and domestic access to compute power,” commented Minister Champagne.
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Why Is This Important?
Since the 1980s, Canada has been a pioneer in artificial intelligence, driven by a wealth of talent, innovative leadership, and groundbreaking research. In 2017, Canada further cemented its leadership by becoming the first country to launch a national AI strategy.
However, limited domestic computing capacity leaves Canadian researchers and firms dependent on vulnerable international supply chains for AI computing power, which presents challenges in terms of cost, access security, and the protection of Canadian data.
To address these issues, the Government of Canada is taking proactive steps to provide organizations, businesses, and researchers with the necessary compute capacity to protect Canadian data and intellectual property while advancing AI technology.
The upcoming public consultation will involve Canadian researchers, innovators, and businesses to identify effective strategies for investing in the country’s AI capabilities. This consultation will be conducted through various channels, including online forums.
Additionally, the government will seek input from civil society, Indigenous groups, and other interested parties.
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