The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, AMii, is getting a $5 million gift from Google to shape artificial intelligence courses at 25 post-secondary institutions across Canada.

Alberta

The release of Open AI's ChatGPT has accelerated the development of artificial intelligence and warnings about its impact on society.

Rise of AI

The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (AMii) has received a $5 million donation from Google Canada. This funding aims to support the development and integration of artificial intelligence courses at 25 post-secondary institutions across Canada. The initiative is designed to increase AI literacy and encourage the adoption of AI technology in education.

Leaders at Google Canada and AMii have stated that there is a need for greater understanding and comfort with AI among Canadians. They believe that education will help accelerate the adoption of AI technologies and enable students to use these tools for learning and innovation. 

Government representatives have indicated that artificial intelligence is a priority for the country's future, with the creation of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation. The first minister for this new portfolio is MP Evan Solomon. Officials have also noted that privacy and security are ongoing considerations, with privacy impact assessments required for relevant agencies.

AMii has yet to select the 25 institutions that will participate in this AI education initiative. The program remains in its early stages, and its impact is expected to be evaluated as courses are developed and implemented.



AI coming to classes around Canada

From chat GPT to language apps, artificial intelligence is a daily tool for many people. Experts say it's still not widely understood. So, Google Canada, and a leading research organization in Alberta, want to change that. Google Canada is handing $5 million to the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, or AMI. The goal, incorporate AI into courses at universities and colleges, and turn research into real world use. What we haven't seen, you know, as rapid is the adoption of technologies and adoption of AI in Canada. The more that we can have this understanding and literacy across the country, the more we think that's going to accelerate adoption. Google says education will help people get more comfortable with AI. I have two 14-year-olds and, you know, right now it is very risk-based for them, where they're kind of worried about using the AI because they're not sure if they're going to get in trouble and, you know, have to work with them and be like, you got to use it for co-creation and understanding and brainstorming. It's not just companies thinking this. I, Evan Solomon, do swear that I will be faithful and bear truth. Prime Minister Mark Carney sees it as the key to the future. He created Canada's first Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation. MP Evan Solomon takes on that portfolio. Neither Google nor AMI talked about privacy and security concerns, or the risk of plagiarism related to AI. But the province says AI can help there, too, as agencies already have to file privacy impact assessments. If we can give them a tool that is AI empowered, they can let them do it in minutes and guarantee their compliance with the law, how cool is that? It's still early days for the initiative. AMI says it will choose 25 post-secondary institutions across Canada to start shaping courses for AI learning. Natasha Reeb, CBC News, Edmonton.

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Rise of AI