Canada to unveil national AI strategy next week

The federal government will introduce its long-awaited national artificial intelligence strategy next week, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Wednesday. Carney confirmed the timeline to reporters on Parliament Hill, stating the strategy is coming out within days.

The announcement follows a commitment from Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon, who initially promised the strategy would be tabled by the end of last year. The development of the plan has evolved alongside a shifting public conversation. While the government initially signaled an adoption-focused approach, officials said the public discourse has since broadened to include more concerns about safety and broader social impacts.

Minister Solomon said earlier this month that the strategy will specifically consider the technology's impacts on the labour market. He has also stated that Canada must strike a balance between what he described as AI cheerleaders and those who are completely opposed to the technology.

The government's spring economic statement previously outlined six pillars for the upcoming strategy. These include introducing new privacy and online safety laws, building sovereign compute...