Here’s what’s still needed to drive innovation

In 2017, Canada launched the world’s first national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy. The Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy—led by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) and funded by the federal government—was created to help establish a robust national AI ecosystem by 2030. The ambitious goal was to accelerate AI research and education, spur the development […]
Liberals on collision course to entrench anti-Blackness

OTTAWA—Do the Liberals choose their cabinet through varying degrees of anti-Blackness, or is that just a bonus they throw in? Given that the Toronto Police Service recently gave an apology for their systemic anti-Black racism, reporters should be asking Bill Blair what his contribution to the cause was. Nevertheless, Blair is not in my crosshairs […]
Canada’s bold AI strategy has been a success—let’s double down

The upcoming federal budget provides an opportunity not only to identify future priorities, but also to reflect on past decisions, strategies, and investments. Although our collective impulse may be to focus on what’s new, the secret to sustaining success is often found in building on what’s already been done—and done right. In 2017, the federal […]
Medical professionals’ discomfort with digital tech is stumbling block to spread of AI in health care, say experts

Medical professionals’ lack of comfort with new digital technologies is a major challenge that will need to be overcome as Health Canada develops the regulatory framework to support the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical devices, according to experts. “In medicine, there’s a huge divide between the IT side of the organization and the […]
How does AI factor into growing Canada’s economy?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly seen as one of the most transformative technologies of our era. However, little is known about how widely it is adopted by firms, what sorts of firms are adopting it first or most effectively, nor how they plan to apply it. This lack of reliable information on the use of […]
Time to capitalize on Canada’s big AI advantage

Canada is a global leader in artificial intelligence because of decades of work by world-class luminaries at universities and government labs. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have worked hard to further AI research and development. I successfully exited two AI startups in Canada and hold 48 patents in AI related to messaging and security. My […]
To take AI to the next level, we need a dose of wisdom

There is no doubt that Canada is a global leader in artificial intelligence. Thanks to the foresight of the 2017 Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, the first of its kind globally, investment has transformed research, enterprise, and the attraction of talent. Yet as talk of another “AI winter” abounds, can Canada uphold its momentum? Or have we […]
Five barriers to the commercialization of medical AI research

Consistent and significant investments in AI research in Canada have resulted in globally recognized centres of academic excellence across the country. The often-repeated challenge moving forward is to translate that academic work into commercial success. Based on my experience spinning off two companies developing technologies using AI in the medical space from the University of […]
AI & 5G

Deep fakes and big data: the next level of cyber warfare

Most people are unaware of the personal security risks confronting them when they make use of 21st century technology. Threats are embedded in the facial recognition technology that opens your iPhone, Chatbots on your online shopping sites, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) deployed in military operations. These technologies form a juggernaut of sophisticated devices storing […]