How Amii continues to advance AI, drive impact and build literacy across Canada
The Government of Canada announced the next phase of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy today. The strategy was initially launched in 2017 with the new phase shaped by a year of consultation and more than 11,000 submissions from Canadians across the country, setting out a bold roadmap for the future. The strategy entitled AI for All, sends a powerful signal and directly builds on the momentum Amii, and our sister institutes— Mila and the Vector Institute—have generated across the country.
For Amii, this investment marks an exciting new chapter to build on our nearly 25-year legacy of anchoring AI excellence in Alberta, allowing us to double down on our commitment to drive Canada’s global leadership through real world impact.
AI is here. The question is whether it will improve the lives of all Canadians or benefit only a few. AI can shorten our emergency room wait times and make a small business more competitive, if it is governed by Canadian values with a clear goal of improving the lives of all Canadians. That’s why we need an ambitious new strategy: AI for All. We will build trust so that all Canadians are empowered to use this technology safely and with confidence. AI that builds Canada strong for all: that is our mission.
The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney,
Prime Minister of Canada
Canada’s new AI for All Strategy is about putting artificial intelligence to work for Canadians. It will give people the confidence to use AI safely, help businesses adopt it, and ensure more of the value is created here at home. This is how we protect people, grow our economy, reflect our values, and deliver real benefits in everyday life.
The Hon. Evan Solomon
Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
"Through the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, Amii has transformed its ability to scale—taking breakthroughs from the lab and putting them to work, tracing a direct line from foundational research to societal and economic impact. This latest phase builds on the massive momentum Amii and our partner institutes have generated. We are energized by this commitment and ready to deepen our work, cementing our nation's competitive edge and making AI work for everyone. The next couple of years will shape the coming decades of AI and we can’t afford to wait. The investment in this strategy secures our leadership in the global narrative, ensuring Canada isn’t just reacting to the future of AI but actively shaping it."
Cam Linke
Amii CEO
Canada's AI for All Moment
For over two decades, Amii has led breakthroughs that fundamentally redefine what AI can achieve. From setting global benchmarks in reinforcement learning to developing intelligent tools that elevate healthcare and designing energy-efficient solutions for the planet, this deep scientific expertise translates into tangible societal value and economic growth.
The AI for All strategy aims to turn innovation into impact, driving economic growth, empowering Canadian workers, scaling local businesses, and building sovereign capability that enables more choice for Canadians. The strategy directly accelerates Amii’s momentum, providing the runway to scale commercialization, equip our workforce with AI literacy, and ensure Canada remains a leader in shaping the global AI future.
)
Human-Centred Impact for All
AI in the ER
Ross Mitchell, Amii Fellow and Canada CIFAR AI Chair, pursues research at the intersection of AI and healthcare—focusing on enhancing medical imaging, advancing cancer treatment, and improving clinical efficiency. Most recently, Ross collaborated on an open-source AI scribe now being piloted by hundreds of emergency room physicians across Alberta. This intelligent assistant alleviates the administrative burden on doctors, already enabling them to see up to 20% more patients per shift. The technology is currently scaling across Alberta, with plans for a nationwide rollout.
From Code to Clean Water
Martha White, Amii Fellow, Canada CIFAR AI Chair and Founder and CEO of Edmonton-based RL Core Technologies applies her world-class expertise in reinforcement learning to build AI models that work alongside human operators in industrial facilities, managing the continuous adjustments required to keep operations running smoothly.
This technology addresses a critical challenge for remote and Indigenous communities across Canada, where specialized technicians are often difficult to recruit or retain. Built to keep vital facilities running safely between operator visits, RL Core’s systems are currently expanding beyond water treatment into pulp and paper, mining, and additional industrial sites across Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Arizona, and Tennessee.
A Canadian Shield Against Foreign Threats
Matt Taylor, Amii Fellow and Canada CIFAR AI Chair and James Benoit, CIFAR AI Safety Postdoctoral fellow at Amii are lending their expertise to CIPHER AI, a human-in-the-loop platform built to defend Canada against sophisticated foreign influence and disinformation campaigns. By combining AI scale with human oversight, their collaborative research helps decision-makers isolate dangerous narrative disruptions in real time.
Backed by recent early-stage investment, the initiative is transitioning from a research project into a scalable platform to help Canadian institutions identify information threats earlier and respond with confidence. CIPHER is part of the Canadian AI Safety Institute Research Program, spearheaded by CIFAR under the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy.
Empowering Learners with AI
AI literacy is the new foundational skill. Much like the rise of the internet, AI is fundamentally changing what we learn, how we learn, and the capabilities required to thrive in the modern workforce. A recent study from Public First notes, a shortage of sector-specific AI skills is currently reducing potential adoption by up to 52%, leaving $16 billion in annual economic gains unrealized.
Closing this deployment gap requires a concerted effort to build widespread AI literacy. By instilling AI confidence and capacity in learners today, Amii is equipping the workforce of tomorrow to meet this surging demand and lead Canada’s digital economy. It also nurtures a robust talent pipeline that encourages innovators to build companies and stay in Canada.
Already impacting 1.2 million learners worldwide, Amii is proud to shape the national landscape of AI literacy and training through its high-impact national AI training initiatives, including:
AI Learning Kits for K-12 Classrooms: A $2.7M partnership with the Government of Alberta to develop and deliver specialized learning kits for teachers in K-12 classrooms.
AI Pathways: Energizing Canada’s Low-Carbon Workforce: Supported by a $10.4M investment from the Government of Canada’s Sustainable Jobs Training fund to upskill nearly 6,000 Canadian energy workers.
AI Workforce Readiness Program: Supported by Google.org to train more than 125,000 Canadian post-secondary students annually, establishing a national consortium of 57 post-secondary institutions.
First channel partnership with the University of Alberta Continuing Education for AI Literacy for Everyone platform: providing working professionals with access to the AI Literacy for Everyone platform, providing a direct pathway for working professionals to build essential AI skills.
Shaping the Future of AI in Canada
The next phase of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy is a declaration of Canada’s intent to lead the global digital frontier. At Amii, we are energized by this renewed commitment and uniquely equipped to continue to drive its success.
Alongside our partners, Amii is proud to stand at the forefront of this national vision—ensuring that the incredible potential of artificial intelligence translates into lasting prosperity, security, and opportunity for all Canadians.
)