Trudeau announces AI measures will be in budget

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Sunday that next week’s federal budget will include $2.4 billion to address artificial intelligence issues. The vast majority of the funding will go to the AI Compute Access Fund. It will receive $2 billion as the government consults with stakeholders about the best way to support researchers and industry. There will also be a Canadian AI Sovereign Compute Strategy to promote the development of Canadian-owned and -developed AI infrastructure. The government will spend $200 million to boost AI start-ups in such industries as agriculture, clean technology, health care and manufacturing. The money will be administered through the regional development agencies. A further $100 million will be earmarked for the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistant Program for the AI Assist Program. This will help small- and medium-sized businesses to deploy new AI technologies. Some workers may find themselves suffering in the new online world. The government is setting aside $50 million for the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program which will provide skills training to affected employees. An additional $50 million will go to the Canadian AI Safety Institute. It will research the safe development and rollout of AI. It is expected this will combat the risk of nefarious AI systems. The Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA), currently in committee, will be allocated $5.1 million for the Office of the AI and Data Commissioner. The act is contained within the larger framework of Bill C-27, the Digital Charter Act. “These investments in Budget 2024 will help harness the full potential of AI so Canadians, and especially young Canadians, can get good-paying jobs while raising our productivity, and growing our economy,” the prime minister said in a statement . “This announcement is a major investment in our future, in the future of workers, in making sure that every industry, and every generation, has the tools to succeed and prosper in the economy of tomorrow.” The Canadian Chamber of Commerce gave grudging support to the new program. “Yesterday’s announcement is a positive step for Canada’s Artificial Intelligence ecosystem, but we need more than just dollars and cents,” senior director of digital economy, technology and innovation Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia stated. “We can’t continue to layer on additional red tape that will stifle and undermine private sector investment. While this announcement makes way for new opportunities for AI in Canada, the truth of the matter is that the government needs to fix Bill C-27, which will drive productivity and adoption away from Canada if not addressed.” Canada first announced a national AI strategy in 2017, becoming the first country to do so. Further steps were issued two years ago. A total of $443 million in funding was revealed in 2022. The budget will be tabled by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on April 16. – Reporting by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca

Trudeau announces AI measures will be in budget

News | April 8, 2024

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Trudeau announces AI measures will be in budget

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