Hot on the heels of a $13B local data centre announcement from Meta, five ministries of Alberta are partnering to support a $50-million, five-year investment into the region’s premier artificial intelligence hub, the Province announced this week.
Funding of $15M from the Ministry of Technology and Innovation, another $15M from Advanced Education, $10M from Assisted Living and Social Services, and $5M each from Primary and Preventative Health Services and Education and Childcare will help Alberta’s Machine Intelligence Institute expand impact and accelerate AI adoption throughout the province.
“Artificial intelligence is one of the defining technologies of our time, and Alberta continues to demonstrate global leadership in its development and application,” says Cam Linke, chief executive officer of Amii.
Amii will support Alberta’s vision for innovation by helping talent develop AI skills, empowering organizations to adopt AI, supporting commercialization of local tech, and advancing research for future breakthroughs.
The investment “enables Amii to strengthen the foundations of Alberta’s AI ecosystem by supporting startups, accelerating AI adoption across industry and the public sector, and building the AI literacy needed to prepare the workforce of the future,” according to Linke.
“Together, we are ensuring Alberta remains a destination for AI talent, innovation, and investment while creating lasting economic and societal benefits for Albertans,” he said.
The investment builds on Alberta’s first Technology and Innovation Strategy.
“Alberta has spent two decades building a world-class AI sector, and now we’re putting that advantage to work,” stated Premier Danielle Smith.
“This investment will help improve public services, support Alberta businesses and create more high-value jobs while keeping Alberta at the forefront of one of the world’s fastest-growing industries,” she remarked.
Amii is “home to some of the best minds in the field,” notes Minister of Technology and Innovation Nate Glubish, including Turing Award winner Dr. Richard Sutton
“This $50-million investment is a vote of confidence in that team,” says Glubish. “It will put AI to work for the people of this province: better healthcare, faster public services, and more Alberta companies solving real problems.”
Alberta’s universities and research institutions “have made our province a global leader in AI,” posits Myles McDougall, who serves as Minister of Advanced Education. “As these skills become essential across the workforce, this investment in Amii ensures our students graduate ready to lead.”
Leave a Reply