Canada’s PM Carney launches national AI council

Montreal, Canada - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the establishment of a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) council on Friday, aiming to guide the nation's approach to the rapidly evolving technology. The council, which will consist of 13 members, will provide independent, practical advice on Canada's AI transformation, with a focus on managing risks and maximizing opportunities presented by AI.

Yoshua Bengio, a renowned computer scientist based in Montreal and widely regarded as one of the pioneers of AI, will join the council. In a recent interview, Bengio expressed concerns about losing control over AI development and called for the establishment of guardrails, similar to those implemented in nuclear non-proliferation efforts, to ensure the technology is used responsibly.

Carney emphasized that the council's mandate is to assist his government in navigating the challenges and opportunities associated with AI, ultimately striving to improve the lives of all Canadians. The council will comprise experts from academia, former technology industry leaders, and a former national security adviser from the previous administration of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.