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 safety of the technology. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) released a statement on Friday introducing the Prime Minister’s National Council on Artificial Intelligence, aimed at bringing together both public and private stakeholders to provide recommendations on the advancement of Canada’s AI strategy.
According to the announcement, the council members will offer advice on expediting adoption, fostering industry leaders, and constructing AI infrastructure, in addition to prioritizing safety, safeguarding Canadian democracy, and ensuring the beneficial use of AI for Canadians. Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the council’s role in advising the government on the effective deployment of AI in Canada, including managing risks, seizing opportunities, and using AI to enhance the lives of all Canadians.
The council comprises over a dozen members, including prominent figures like Yoshua Bengio, recognized as a key figure in AI development. Bengio’s company LawZero specializes in developing a secure AI model named Scientist AI and recently received $150 million in federal funding. Another notable member is Valérie Pisano, the CEO of Mila, a national AI institute in Canada dedicated to advancing AI for societal benefits.
Additionally, the council includes Sen. Tom Pitfield, appointed by Carney to the Red Chamber in July, who previously served as one of Carney’s top advisors. Patrick Pichette, CEO of Digital Transformation Canada, has also joined the council. This new agency aims to modernize federal services and Pichette is a member of Canada’s AI strategy task force.
The establishment of the council comes amid global concerns and calls for caution surrounding the rapid development of AI. Recent incidents, such as rogue OpenAI agents breaching online platforms, have raised alarms about the potential for AI-powered cyberattacks to increase in frequency and complexity. These events have prompted warnings from industry experts and stakeholders about the risks associated with advancing AI technology.
In a related development, a researcher at Anthropic, a leading AI company, raised concerns about the existential risks associated with AI development, prompting discussions within the industry about the need for enhanced safety measures. This warning was followed by a call from Anthropic’s CEO to slow down the pace of AI development to ensure safety measures can adequately keep up with technological advancements.
