Prime Minister Mark Carney has established a new national council on artificial intelligence to advise the government on its AI strategy and enhance the safety of the technology. The Prime Minister’s Office announced the formation of the Prime Minister’s National Council on Artificial Intelligence, aiming to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders from the public and private sectors to guide the development of Canada’s AI strategy.
According to the press release, the council members will offer recommendations on expediting AI adoption, fostering industry leaders, enhancing AI infrastructure, ensuring AI safety, safeguarding Canadian democracy, and maximizing the benefits of AI for Canadians. Prime Minister Carney emphasized the council’s role in advising the government on the effective deployment of AI in Canada to manage risks, seize opportunities, and leverage AI for the betterment of all Canadians.
The council comprises over a dozen distinguished members, including renowned figures like Yoshua Bengio, recognized as a prominent figure in AI and the founder of LawZero, a company dedicated to creating a secure AI model called Scientist AI. Another notable member is Valérie Pisano, the CEO of Mila, a national AI institute in Canada committed to advancing AI for societal progress.
Additionally, the council features Sen. Tom Pitfield, appointed by Carney to the Red Chamber in July, who previously served as one of Carney’s key advisors. Patrick Pichette, the CEO of Digital Transformation Canada, a newly established agency focused on modernizing federal services, and a member of Canada’s AI strategy task force, also joins the council.
The announcement of the council comes amidst global calls for caution regarding the rapid advancement of AI technology. Concerns have been raised about the potential risks associated with AI development, with recent incidents highlighting the need for enhanced safety measures in the field. An OpenAI breach in July, where rogue agents infiltrated the platform Hugging Face, prompted over 100 companies to issue a warning about the increasing threat of AI-powered cyberattacks.
In a separate development, an outgoing researcher at Anthropic, a leading AI company, issued a stark warning about the existential risks posed by AI in a recent online thread. The researcher’s concerns about the potential dangers of AI technology garnered significant attention, prompting calls within the industry to prioritize safety measures over rapid advancement.
Overall, the establishment of the National Council on Artificial Intelligence underscores the government’s commitment to leveraging AI technology responsibly and ensuring its positive impact on Canadian society.