Introduction

Over the past 30 years, Canada has been able to support the deployment of the world's largest and most powerful artificial intelligence (AI) science community by investing rapidly in machine learning and deep learning research. Today, Canada's knowledge of AI has spread around the world.

Canada: A Global Artificial Intelligence Hub

Since the proliferation of modern AI in the 1950s, Canada has maintained its status as a global innovation hub in AI by implementing decisive national programs with long-term impacts. Canada continues to provide critical support to AI development and has quickly become a host nation for some of the most brilliant scientific minds in machine learning and deep learning. However, without a robust business-driven ecosystem taking those research discoveries into a commercial phase, Canada faces the challenge of not effectively benefitting from the industrial implementation of AI. As policymakers continue to support nationwide research programs, they remain committed to crystallizing the development of an AI-driven ecosystem.

Understanding Canada's Research-Led AI Model

Building the Foundations: Creation of CIFAR

In the early 1980s, Japan launched an innovative research program on “fifth-generation” computing systems, which integrated AI. This initiative spurred the launch of other research programs elsewhere in the world as part of an important step in technological advancement. In 1982, Canada created the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) with the purpose of promoting knowledge breakthroughs, innovation and notable advances within the Canadian research community. In fact, in 1983, CIFAR launched the AI & Society Program, a national program, which was one of the world's first research programs specialized in AI. Decades later, it remains a foundational program for Canada's current status as both an AI hub and research leader.

Attracting Global Talent: The Godfathers of Artificial Intelligence

In the late 1980s, funding for research projects in AI was dramatically cut worldwide. Regarded as the “AI Winter,” CIFAR provided critical support to scientists in the field of AI. As a result, Canada retained its scientific talent, while attracting international brilliant minds such as Dr. Geoffrey Hinton from the United Kingdom, a recognized pioneer in deep learning.