Through a partnership with Prosper NWT, Amii hosted a practical AI workshop to organizations in Yellowknife, helping local businesses identify AI opportunities to improve operations and solve unique challenges.
Prosper NWT is the economic development organization for Northwest Territories that aims to promote business growth and economic diversification. Supported by funding from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)—part of a broader $2.8M federal investment to accelerate digital literacy and AI adoption across the North—Prosper NWT partnered with Amii to deliver a tailored AI workshop for seven local businesses, empowering them to harness innovative technologies to boost productivity and scale.
Here’s how it went:
At Amii, our mission is AI for good and for all. As a national AI centre, we get the privilege to work with 800+ Canadian companies. That means bringing our expertise not only to the global stage, but to local communities from coast to coast to coast.
We were very excited to partner with companies in Yellowknife and appreciate Prosper NWT for making this collaboration possible. Our team was really inspired by how these businesses embraced the new ideas and tools that will help them innovate in new ways using AI. We can't wait to share their stories to help other Canadian businesses build momentum, too. The engagement was rewarding and is an important part of the work we do at Amii to advance AI adoption all across Canada.
Marlene McNaughton, Chief Revenue Officer, Amii
For many Northern businesses, access to AI expertise and technical advisors can be limited.
That’s why we bring our expertise directly into regions across the country, meeting organizations where they are, and helping ensure economic benefits remain within those regions.
Our interdisciplinary teams composed of technical and business expertise, worked side-by-side with NWT business leaders to identify AI opportunities, evaluate each opportunity on a Risk/Value matrix, and discuss implementation considerations to current business challenges.
As Edwin Xu, Director of Finance and Programs at Prosper NWT, shared:
"They really liked Amii’s approach—tailoring the workshop to meet their needs. They aren't just looking at, 'Yeah, let's apply AI.' They are actually looking at their business processes and identifying the best use cases where value is really being driven."
These workshops give local businesses a clearer path to using AI in ways that strengthen their operations, build local capacity, and keep economic value in the North.
Driving AI Innovation Together
Navigating emerging technology requires trust and deep domain expertise. By combining Prosper NWT’s community relationships and our AI expertise, we create a practical starting point for businesses beginning to explore AI.
What makes this partnership work is genuine curiosity: our team takes the time to learn about the inner workings of every business, ensuring our approach is tailored to their specific needs, whether it’s a travel agency or a local credit union.
Joyce Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Prosper NWT, summarized it best:
Effective partnerships changing tomorrow.
Amii is proud to be a trusted partner for communities across Canada embracing AI and advancing innovations on their own terms. Building a strong Canadian AI ecosystem takes collaboration—from the researchers advancing the field, to the talent applying it, the startups scaling it, and the everyday businesses adopting it. Partnerships like this help bridge the gap between potential and impact, ensuring the benefits of AI reach communities across Canada.