The framing of the government’s artificial intelligence strategy treats AI as something happening to us, a wave we react to rather than a thing we build. It has the opportunity backwards.
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.
Our diverse population and strong human-rights tradition give us access to datasets that reflect the world more accurately than any other AI hub.