The Canadian government under Carney’s leadership is actively promoting artificial intelligence (AI) to boost the country’s economy. However, some AI inventors and experts are urging Ottawa to implement more regulations to ensure responsible AI development. Valérie Pisano, CEO of Montreal’s AI institute Mila, emphasized the need for stronger guardrails beyond self-imposed measures by tech companies to address potential risks associated with AI advancements.
Pisano highlighted concerns such as the impact of AI on children, environmental consequences of AI data centers, and potential job displacement for young workers. She stressed the importance of striking a balance between fostering innovation and protecting society from potential AI-related challenges.
Echoing Pisano’s sentiments, Frédéric Leblond from the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal discussed the transformative potential of AI in healthcare. He emphasized the importance of evolving guidelines to regulate AI technologies effectively, especially in areas like healthcare where AI biases could have critical implications.
Moreover, as Canada aims to expand its AI industry, the government has launched initiatives like the Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy to invest in AI infrastructure. However, concerns have been raised about the environmental impact of scaling up AI operations, particularly in terms of energy consumption by data centers.
Experts like Hamish van der Ven emphasized the need for stringent regulations to ensure sustainable practices in data center operations. Additionally, the government is exploring the concept of a sovereign cloud to enhance data security and control while adhering to clean energy standards.
In response to environmental concerns, industry leaders like Angela Adam stressed the importance of collaboration with regulators and power producers to power data centers sustainably. Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon highlighted the government’s commitment to clean energy regulations and the consideration of constraints on energy use by data centers at a provincial level.
Overall, stakeholders are calling for a balanced approach that promotes AI innovation while addressing potential risks and ensuring ethical AI development practices in Canada’s evolving digital landscape.