Wary of Americans, Canada Bets on Its Own A.I.

Canada unveiled its national artificial intelligence strategy on Thursday, prioritizing domestic AI development and consumer protection amid growing skepticism toward U.S. tech influence. The plan includes $100 million in funding for research, legislation to safeguard privacy and combat deepfakes, and the construction of a public AI supercomputer. Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized Canada’s shift toward aligning with middle powers like Australia, France, and Germany, mirroring its approach to defense and energy sovereignty. The strategy reflects Canada’s desire to govern AI independently, a departure from its historical reliance on U.S. tech policy. Carney noted that while cooperation with U.S. companies—such as Anthropic, which granted Canada access to its restricted AI model, Mythos—would continue, Canada aims to build its own capabilities first. The move follows a February school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, where the attacker’s OpenAI account had been flagged internally for policy violations eight months prior, though concerns were not shared with authorities. Legislation will target child data protection and surveillance pricing, where businesses adjust prices based on personal data. Canada’s AI ambitions also draw on its heritage as the training ground for AI pioneers Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio. The strategy underscores Canada’s commitment to balancing innovation with worker protections and cultural values, including Indigenous heritage and the French language. Public safety remains a key concern, with the government vowing stricter oversight of AI risks. The strategy aligns with broader efforts to ensure AI adoption is ‘prudent, pragmatic, and pro-worker,’ Carney said, while maintaining dialogue with the U.S. to avoid adversarial relations. The plan marks a pivotal moment for Canada’s tech sovereignty, positioning it as a leader in responsible AI development.