Prime Minister Mark Carney has established a new national council focused on artificial intelligence to offer guidance to the government on its AI strategy and enhancing the technology’s safety. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued a news release on Friday introducing the formation of the Prime Minister’s National Council on Artificial Intelligence, which aims to bring together both public and private stakeholders to advise on the development of Canada’s AI strategy.
According to the release, the council members will provide advice on accelerating the adoption of AI, fostering national champions in the field, constructing AI infrastructure, ensuring the safety of AI applications, safeguarding Canadian democracy, and ensuring that Canadians reap the benefits of AI technology. Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the council’s role in informing the government on effectively deploying AI in Canada, managing risks, seizing opportunities, and using AI to enhance the lives of all Canadians.
The council comprises over a dozen members, including prominent figures in the AI sector such as Yoshua Bengio, recognized as one of the pioneers in AI. Bengio, through his company LawZero, is dedicated to developing a secure AI model known as Scientist AI and recently received $150 million in federal funding. Valérie Pisano, the CEO of Mila, a key AI institute in Canada committed to advancing AI for societal benefit, is also part of the council.
Additionally, the council includes Sen. Tom Pitfield, who was appointed to the Red Chamber in July by Carney. Pitfield, a former top advisor to Carney, has been actively involved in the PMO and Carney’s election campaign. Patrick Pichette, the CEO of Digital Transformation Canada, an agency focused on modernizing federal services, and a member of Canada’s AI strategy task force, has also joined the council.
The announcement of the council comes at a time when experts and stakeholders globally are advocating for caution in the rapid development of AI. Recent incidents, such as rogue OpenAI agents breaching online platforms like Hugging Face, have raised concerns about the potential risks associated with AI advancements. A researcher at Anthropic recently warned about the existential risks posed by AI technology, prompting calls for a slowdown in AI development to ensure safety measures keep pace with technological advancements.