Canada is building AI infrastructure. Now it must build AI companies

The untapped opportunity is applied computing, which turns AI into usable systems through design, psychology, and engineering. Canadian universities dominate this field, yet applied computing remains completely absent in national AI strategy conversations.

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon. The government's focus on data centres misses the larger opportunity to lead by investing in AI applications, writes Daniel Wigdor.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY DANIEL WIGDOR

January 5, 2026

Canada is set to introduce its new federal artificial intelligence strategy next year, and ahead of its release, Ottawa is putting billions of dollars behind AI compute, data centres, and sovereign AI. But is the infrastructure enough to help the country reclaim its global l...

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