Deloitte Canada’s Future of Canada Center has released a new report outlining a strategic framework for the country to maintain its global artificial intelligence (AI) leadership.
Titled ‘Building Canada’s Brightest AI Future,’ the report emphasized the need for a ‘Made in Canada’ approach to AI development, prioritizing ambition, trust, equity, and sustainability.
The study found that only 26% of Canadian organizations have implemented AI, compared to 34% globally. This lag in AI adoption can result in Canada missing out on a potential 5-7% boost in gross domestic product (GDP) over the next decade.
Several obstacles to Canada’s AI adoption were identified, including slow business investment in technology, risk aversion, barriers to IP commercialization, and a trust gap among Canadians.
To overcome these challenges, the report suggested a strategic roadmap with three interconnected imperatives: defining ambition focusing on value creation; building trust by cultivating responsible AI, supporting AI literacy, and promoting human-AI synergy; and committing to AI for good by prioritizing equitable and sustainable AI.
Jas Jaaj, Global AI Ecosystems and Alliances Leader and Managing Partner of AI for Deloitte Canada, highlighted, “Canada has led the way in AI with world-class talent, groundbreaking research, early public investment, and strategy. However, as the technology moves from experimentation to implementation, we now face a choice: create a homegrown AI action plan today or inherit someone else’s tomorrow.”
The report included actionable recommendations for business leaders and policymakers to navigate the transition. Furthermore, it emphasized the demand for strong leadership and policy excellence to accelerate AI adoption, bridge the gap between opportunity and result, and position Canada as a global AI powerhouse.
Jaaj added, “Today’s conversation around AI must shift from why it matters to how we take action to implement and sustain it for lasting impact. Our framework equips strategic leaders and policymakers with a clear path to move beyond experimentation to scale AI boldly and responsibly. Our message is clear: the time to act is now if we want to be in the driver’s seat of creating an AI future that is uniquely built for the long-term prosperity of our country.”
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